Writ petition filed for judicial inquiry into e-commerce scams

A writ has been filed before the High Court (HC) seeking a judicial inquiry into the fraudulent business of e-commerce entities.

Barrister Mohammad Humayun Kabir Pallab and Barrister Mohammad Kawser filed the petition on behalf of human rights organisation Law and Life Foundation and two clients of controversial e-commerce platforms Evaly and e-orange on Wednesday.

Eighteen including Secretary of Commerce Ministry, Secretary of Finance Ministry, Secretary of Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Secretary of Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Chairman of National Board of Revenue, Director General of National Consumer Rights Protection Department and Chairman of Competition Commission have been made respondents to the writ, reports UNB.

Confirming the information, Barrister Pallab said a HC bench comprising Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Md Rajik Al Jalil will hear the writ petition on Thursday.

“In the last few years, some companies have embezzled thousands of millions of taka luring customers in the name of various unethical offers and discounts due to lack of effective surveillance by the concerned government departments,” he said.

This way, he said, a huge amount of money has been laundered abroad.

He said a writ petition has been filed against these misdeeds demanding immediate action in the interest of the customer including judicial investigation.

On Monday, the stakeholders filing the writ sent a legal notice seeking action in the public interest, alleging various forms of fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering by e-commerce-based organisations.

The writ petition was filed as no action was taken by the government even after the notice, concluded Barrister Pallab.