Deliveries of food eased for e-commerce operators
FE REPORT | Thursday, 8 April 2021
The government has allowed e-commerce operators to deliver food products to their customers across the country till midnight aiming to promote e-commerce business during the ongoing lockdown.
The commerce ministry issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday with immediate effect.
The decision had been taken against a backdrop of the countrywide lockdown enforced by the government to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
Usually, e-commerce deliverymen can move from 6:00am to 12:00am for the delivery purposes, the commerce ministry said in its notification.
Besides, restaurants associated with e-commerce organizations will be able to keep their kitchens open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.
No one can take food inside restaurants. Food item delivery has been allowed only through the parcel process.
Deliverymen/vehicles engaged with delivery through e-commerce have to show logo of e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB) and provide serial numbers and identity cards during the time of goods delivery, a source said.
Earlier, the government allowed e-commerce platforms to continue their delivery services till 6:00 pm from 6:00 am during the weeklong lockdown that started on Monday last.
Deliverymen would not be allowed to enter restaurant's kitchen. They must follow health protocol while receiving and delivering food parcels.
The e-commerce firms concerned would submit the list of restaurants, involving food delivery activities, to the deputy commissioners (DCs) for ensuring its monitoring across the country.
The e-CAB will give necessary training and briefing on health protocol including providing identity cards of its association members.
The e-CAB has been created to improve the e-commerce sector of Bangladesh. Now there are around 500 websites and 2000 Facebook companies, according to the e-CAB.