A high-powered panel formed by the government will sit with the stakeholders in the e-commerce sector today (Thursday) to discuss various issues relating to the growing and prospective sector.
The 28-member panel headed by Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi will also discuss the issue of e-commerce negotiations with the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The government formed the committee in 2017 to give an impetus to the e-commerce sector.
"A meeting will be held on May 09 to discuss the development of e-commerce in the country. The committee will prepare a position paper for the negotiation on e-commerce issues, if needed," said a senior official of the commerce ministry, who is also a member of the committee.
The meeting will focus on how the country can play an effective role in the current negotiations on e-commerce in the WTO, he told the FE.
It will also discuss ways to bring all e-commerce activities under a disciplined and organised system to boost the sector, he added.
Presently, there are several hundred e-commerce companies in Bangladesh.
Some top e-commerce sites are Ajkerdeal.com, Daraz.com.bd, Rokomari.com, Pickaboo.com, Bagdoom .com, PriyoShop.com, Othoba.com, Chaldal.com, Iferi.com, KhaasFood.com, Buymobile.com.bd, Branoo.com, Sheba.xyz, Kiksha.com, Foodpanda.com.bd, Amikinee.com and clickbd.com.
Besides, there are more than 2600 individuals and organisations selling e-products and services via Facebook page.
In 2018, the government framed a National Digital Commerce Policy-2018.
The main objective of the policy is to establish a digital commerce system in the country using the information and communication technology.
An official said the e-commerce sector has been creating significant employment opportunities in the country and that e-commerce is playing a vital role in many countries around the world.
The world's leading e-commerce companies are Amazon.com, JD.com Inc, Wal-Mart Stores Inc, eBay Inc, Otto Group, Alibaba Group Holding Limited, Cnova N.V, Rakuten and Best Buy Co.
The other members of the high-powered committee are secretaries of commerce, industries, foreign and home ministries and the information and communication technology division, chairmen of the National Board of Revenue, Bangladesh Tariff Commission, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Bangladesh Competition Commission, vice chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau and representatives of Bangladesh Bank (BB), The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Dhaka (MCCI) and the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
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