TechFocus
Archaic law bars online shopping
E-commerce has become a second name for the internet. Shopping, for most, has always been characterised by tired feet, crowded markets and desperate searches for a good parking spot. All these factors put together take all the enjoyment out of shopping. But with the advent of online shopping, buying and selling is no more a matter than a click of a button, that too from the comfort of your home. That is the scenario for most countries of the world, including our neighbour, India. For Bangladesh, however, this is a realm that is yet to be explored fully. A few Bangladeshi websites are available online which cater to this idea. The number, however, is shamefully small. According to Rakib Khan, CEO of Hut Bazar.com, a total of only 37 such online stores are present for Bangladeshis, out of which most have already been forced to discontinue owing to lack of customers. The main aim of these websites, simply put, is to draw at the already weak heartstrings of nostalgic and homesick Bangladeshis living abroad by allowing them to send gift items to their near and dear ones in Bangladesh. Gift items include flowers, cakes, sweets, toys, etc. They even provide you with the option of choosing the specific date that you would like your gift to be delivered. Currently, these websites deliver only to major or specific cities in Bangladesh. Since items are shipped from within Bangladesh, you can expect complete freshness of your delivered item, which obviously becomes mandatory when delivering food items and flowers. These companies have links to major stores in Bangladesh and their delivery team purchases the goods from these stores and delivers them to the doorstep of your loved ones. The business is a highly lucrative one, and profits start pouring in, becoming almost ten-fold within a very short time span. The downside, however, is that these websites can only cater to customers residing outside Bangladesh. Due to the restrictions on international credit cards to use online, payment for these services becomes impossible for Bangladeshis in Bangladesh. Therefore, the Bangladeshi market cannot be tapped into at all. Few of those who are really interested have to request relatives living abroad to provide their credit card numbers if there's something that they really need to buy online. This turns out to be more of a pain than an advantage of any sort. "Absence of payment gateways such as PayPal or E-Gold in Bangladesh reduces our customer market a great deal. This, combined with reduced internet usage by the majority of the Bangladeshi population, owing to lack of basic internet skills, further becomes a cause of concern," says Rakib Khan. "The media should take a strong step and speak up for allowing the ease of payment gateways in Bangladesh. This would benefit both us as well as the customers," he adds. Until this hurdle is lifted, these companies could think about accepting cash or cheques from the doorsteps of interested customers. That would also be a valuable service, wouldn't it? Moreover, they can also think of extending their delivery services to other parts of Bangladesh like small towns, villages, etc. In fact, why only gifts? The big brand companies of Bangladesh should also make an effort towards online sale of their products. In doing so, they will certainly be remembered in the prayers of their loyal customers, besides multiplying their own profits. Since payment gateways are still not open, they could accept cash on delivery of the product. Another option could be to allow the use of local credit or debit cards within Bangladesh. In the meanwhile, fellow Bangladeshi residents, cheer up! Maybe you can't purchase gifts online, but what you can do is buy and sell property and services online. Websites such as Clickbd.com, CellBazaar.com and the new KenaBecha.com.bd allow you to do just that. With the help of these websites, you can sell any new or used article such as a mobile phone, or laptop at your stated price. You can also sell land, as well as offer services such as computer repair, beauty treatments, etc. All items are categorically classified, so users who are looking to buy can find their items of interest with ease. These websites simply act as a platform for users to sell and buy goods and services. The name and contact number of the seller is provided so that the buyer and seller can mutually decide the mode of payment and delivery themselves. An interesting feature in the Clickbd.com website is the option for users to auction their items. However, the need to register and become a member in order to buy or sell becomes a bit of a bother for many. I found Cellbazaar.com the user-friendliest. Its well-categorised options allow users to search by price range, location or brand name. Moreover, the availability of its mobile phone version makes for easy browsing anytime and anywhere. Kenabecha.com has quite an appealing and colorful interface. Being still in its initial stages, it has a lot of categories, like "Toys and Baby Products" empty, which is understandable. However, what is not acceptable is the fact that after having set up hoardings of the website on the streets, it has been put on the web incomplete. A number of links within the website were found to be inactive, including links like "How to Buy and Sell". These little details should be carefully thought out and taken care of before putting up a website on the internet. All in all, I shouldn't be complaining too much. Just the courage of the owners of these websites to have ventured into this new alley of online shopping and trade for Bangladesh deserves great admiration. We hope that they are able to take Bangladeshi e-commerce to a new level.
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