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Deliveries of food eased for e-commerce operators

FE REPORT | April 08, 2021 00:00:00


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.

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