Criminal Investigation Department detained six staff members, including the head of operations of two e-commerce platforms -- Tholay.com and WeCoom.com -- from Dhaka's Mirpur area today.
"We got reports of numerous victims of their fraudulence. Many are still waiting for refunds as the platforms did not deliver the ordered products. Some of them are preparing to file cases against them," Imam Hossain, additional deputy inspector general of CID, told a press briefing at its headquarters today.
The detainees are: Nazrul Islam, head of operations of the platforms owned by the same person; Sohel Hossain, accounts officer; Tarek Mahmud Anik, digital communication officer; Sazzad Hossain, sales executive; Munna Parvez, call centre executive; and Masum Hasan, a supervisor of the institution.
"The owner of both e-commerce platforms, Sakib Uddin, is still off the hook… He will be made accused in the cases to be filed," Imam Hossain said, adding they have information that Sakib is still in the country.
CID officials carried out raids after a customer, Khairul Alam Mir, complained that after watching their ads, touting products at discounted prices, he went to their office in Mirpur.
As the e-commerce platform official stated that they will deliver products 30 days after payment, he along with some other customers paid Tk 2.5 crore but they did not receive products even after 50 days and were asked to wait, CID officials said quoting Khairul.
CID officials said they are yet to assess the amount the e-commerce platforms swindled from customers.
Replying to a query at the briefing, Imam Hossain said, "We have a list of around 60 e-commerce businesses. We are keeping watch on at least 30 right now."
Some of the businesses are delivering products on time now. Some have stopped delivering products during this turbulent situation in the e-commerce sector, he said.
A journalist drew attention to the arrest of Humayun Kabir alias RJ Nirob, head of sales (communications and public relations) at e-commerce platform Qcoom, and asked whether CID will arrest some celebrities, including actors, who are involved.
"They will be arrested if they have criminal liabilities and are in the country," the CID official said.
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