Local courier services charging high rates
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Jasim Uddin Haroon
Local courier and parcel service providers have been charging high rates for their services causing the consumers to suffer.
They have been charging between Tk 15 and Tk 30 for delivery of a single document within the country. They take between Tk 50 and Tk 80 for delivery of parcels.
Apart from this, many courier services are making unexpected delay in delivery of documents although every document is supposed to be delivered overnight.
Admitting the allegations, Muhammed Musa Reza, president of Courier Services Association of Bangladesh (CSAB) told the FE: "The discrimination in charges for delivery of document and parcel is due to lack of regulations."
Sources said there is no authority to monitor the country's around 50 courier service providers who carry different kinds of documents and goods mainly to the country's urban areas. Even, the business has no licensing system.
CSAB president also said they had earlier fixed a charge of Tk 15 for carrying a single document weighing below 500 grams adding : "Now many operator are not complying with the rate."
Abdus Salam, general manager of SA Paribahan said: "In many cases, we need extra cost for delivery of documents. For this, we take variable charges for carrying documents and parcels."
Imamul Kabir Shanto, founder president of CSAB told the FE: "We have no authority to monitor our services. So many are charging in their own whims."
He also said that they had urged the government many times to frame guidelines for them to ensure transparency and accountability in the business.
He said: "We are really in a haphazard position. In fact, many clients are suffering."
Director general of postal department said the government should enact a new law to control, monitor and ensure accountability and transparency in the business.
"Regulatory authority is a must as many of the courier companies are delivering cash money too."
Local courier and parcel service providers have been charging high rates for their services causing the consumers to suffer.
They have been charging between Tk 15 and Tk 30 for delivery of a single document within the country. They take between Tk 50 and Tk 80 for delivery of parcels.
Apart from this, many courier services are making unexpected delay in delivery of documents although every document is supposed to be delivered overnight.
Admitting the allegations, Muhammed Musa Reza, president of Courier Services Association of Bangladesh (CSAB) told the FE: "The discrimination in charges for delivery of document and parcel is due to lack of regulations."
Sources said there is no authority to monitor the country's around 50 courier service providers who carry different kinds of documents and goods mainly to the country's urban areas. Even, the business has no licensing system.
CSAB president also said they had earlier fixed a charge of Tk 15 for carrying a single document weighing below 500 grams adding : "Now many operator are not complying with the rate."
Abdus Salam, general manager of SA Paribahan said: "In many cases, we need extra cost for delivery of documents. For this, we take variable charges for carrying documents and parcels."
Imamul Kabir Shanto, founder president of CSAB told the FE: "We have no authority to monitor our services. So many are charging in their own whims."
He also said that they had urged the government many times to frame guidelines for them to ensure transparency and accountability in the business.
He said: "We are really in a haphazard position. In fact, many clients are suffering."
Director general of postal department said the government should enact a new law to control, monitor and ensure accountability and transparency in the business.
"Regulatory authority is a must as many of the courier companies are delivering cash money too."