Courier service cos sceptical about proper use of new law
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Sonia H Moni
The courier service companies are sceptical about the proper application of legal framework which is assured by the recently-passed Post Office Amendment Act-2009 in a bid to raise the standard of the postal services.
The government has taken the move aiming at legally allowing courier service companies to do business in the country as section four of the Postal Act 1898 allowed only state-run post offices to do the same.
The bill for amending Post Office Act-1898 was passed in Parliament Monday last after Post Minister Raziuddin Razu tabled the bill.
Founder Chairman of Courier Service Association of Bangladesh (CSAB) Imamul Kabir Shanto told the FE, "The government passed the amendment to the section four but if the new law is not applied in a right way, then it can create massive corruption."
"The government will form a regulatory commission with representations from Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, Postal Department and Courier Service."
"We urged the government to include us under the ministry of commerce, as it gave us the trade operating licence, or to let us form an organisation like BTCL."
Expressing concern about the amendment and regulatory commission he said, "The regulatory commission will monitor activities of the courier service companies including its licensing procedure and it will impose different rules."
Mr Imamul said, "Some courier service companies namely Sundarban Courier, Dreamland Courier and Continental Courier have been continuing their activities as per the Air Express Service of Biman Bangladesh Airlines since October 31, 1983."
"Now more than 300,000 people are involved in the courier service industry," he said adding "the failure of Postal Department and our long quality service for years after years boosted up our credibility in the country."
About the doubt of the courier service companies, Director General of Postal Department Mobasherur Rahman said, "Now that the law has been passed, the rules are to be ready. So it is obvious that their might be scope for doubt."
"But I think it is a piece of good news for the courier service companies as their trade will be legalised and it will create a level playing field for the courier service."
The Postal Department DG said, "It will help to create a healthy business environment which will develop the courier service business and it will also control the mushrooming growth of courier services."
The courier service companies are sceptical about the proper application of legal framework which is assured by the recently-passed Post Office Amendment Act-2009 in a bid to raise the standard of the postal services.
The government has taken the move aiming at legally allowing courier service companies to do business in the country as section four of the Postal Act 1898 allowed only state-run post offices to do the same.
The bill for amending Post Office Act-1898 was passed in Parliament Monday last after Post Minister Raziuddin Razu tabled the bill.
Founder Chairman of Courier Service Association of Bangladesh (CSAB) Imamul Kabir Shanto told the FE, "The government passed the amendment to the section four but if the new law is not applied in a right way, then it can create massive corruption."
"The government will form a regulatory commission with representations from Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, Postal Department and Courier Service."
"We urged the government to include us under the ministry of commerce, as it gave us the trade operating licence, or to let us form an organisation like BTCL."
Expressing concern about the amendment and regulatory commission he said, "The regulatory commission will monitor activities of the courier service companies including its licensing procedure and it will impose different rules."
Mr Imamul said, "Some courier service companies namely Sundarban Courier, Dreamland Courier and Continental Courier have been continuing their activities as per the Air Express Service of Biman Bangladesh Airlines since October 31, 1983."
"Now more than 300,000 people are involved in the courier service industry," he said adding "the failure of Postal Department and our long quality service for years after years boosted up our credibility in the country."
About the doubt of the courier service companies, Director General of Postal Department Mobasherur Rahman said, "Now that the law has been passed, the rules are to be ready. So it is obvious that their might be scope for doubt."
"But I think it is a piece of good news for the courier service companies as their trade will be legalised and it will create a level playing field for the courier service."
The Postal Department DG said, "It will help to create a healthy business environment which will develop the courier service business and it will also control the mushrooming growth of courier services."