The High Court today questioned the legality of the inaction in refunding Tk 13 crore, deposited by customers to e-commerce platforms, Dalal Plus and E-orange, as they allegedly did not deliver the products even after getting the payment in advance.
The court issued two separate rules asking respondents to explain in four weeks why their inaction to refund the money and failure to dispose of applications seeking the refund should not be declared illegal.
Secretaries at commerce, home, and law ministries, Bangladesh Bank governor; Inspector General of Police; Head of Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) and officers concerned of Dalal Plus and E-orange have been made respondents to the rule.
The HC has also directed the commerce secretary to dispose the applications submitted by customers seeking their deposited money back in 60 days.
The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Biswajit Debnath issued the rules and orders following two separate writ petitions filed by one Al Amin on behalf of 42 customers, who deposited the money to ecommerce organisations seeking necessary orders.
Petitioner's lawyer Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem Ali Pathan told The Daily Star that 42 customers including Al Amin have deposited Tk 9.58 crore to Dalal Plus and Tk 3.43 core to E-orange at different times last year (2021) in order to purchase products from the companies.
But the e-commerce companies have neither given the products nor returned their many, he said.
The lawyer said the customers have submitted separate applications to the commerce ministry seeking steps to refund the money, but the ministry did not dispose of the applications.
Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy represented the state during hearing of the writ petitions.
