HC issues 9 directives for online business platforms

The High Court (HC) today issued nine directions for the operation of online business platforms in the country. The High Court Division Bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice SM Masud Hossain Dolan passed the order after disposing of a rule issued on reopening of the showroom "Sunvis by Tony" owned by female entrepreneur Rubaiyat Fatema Tony.

The directives are:

1. Everyone must abide by the laws prevailing in Bangladesh. The relationship between owners and consumers must be properly maintained online.

2. In the event of a law violation in the online business process, the affected party will be entitled to equal legal protection.

3. Every citizen has the right to operate a legal business and his business cannot be closed without due legal process.

4. The Directorate of National Consumers' Rights Protection must take steps to register all online traders and provide them with proper approval.

5. It must be ensured that no one can operate or start an online business without authorization. In particular, strict monitoring must be done to ensure that no clothing merchant can make copies of foreign genuine products and sell them as genuine products.

6. Legal measures must ensure that all online business entrepreneurs, administrators, and consumers are verified with national identity cards.

7. Relevant government regulatory agencies, such as BTRC, will coordinate with online e-commerce platforms to store information about online businesses.

8. The relevant authorities should conduct widespread campaigns to warn consumers not to purchase products from fraudulent or untrustworthy online merchants and not to purchase products from unregistered or unauthorized online stores or suppliers.

9. Legal action should be taken against fraudulent online traders by adding necessary provisions to the Consumers' Rights Protection Act, 2009.

The Directorate of National Consumers' Rights Protection brought down the shutters of the Gulshan showroom "Sunvi's by Tony", leading the owner to file a writ in the High Court. Later, the court issued a rule regarding the reopening of the showroom.