The e-commerce sector in the country faced losses exceeding Tk1,700 crore due to the internet and Facebook shutdown over the last 12 days.
The loss was measured at Tk1,400 crore in the first 10 days of the closure, said the E-commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB) President Shomi Kaiser during a media briefing at its office in Dhaka on Wednesday noon (31 July).
During the press conference, it was revealed that over ten days, major sectors incurred significant losses: the e-commerce sector suffered a loss of Tk600 crore, the e-tourism sector Tk300 crore, and the e-logistics sector Tk100 crore.
Shomi Kaiser said that the most affected were small and medium entrepreneurs who rely on Facebook. Many of them have faced various crises, such as having to shut down their businesses and struggling to pay their employees' salaries.
To help them recover, e-CAB urged the government to provide low-interest and collateral-free loans.
The e-CAB president outlined several recommendations: Facebook and the internet should never be shut down in this manner again, a six-month period should be given for loan repayment, positive international branding must be undertaken, collateral-free loans with minimal interest should be provided, the 15% VAT on advertisements should be withdrawn, and the renewal fee for entrepreneurs’ trade licenses should be waived.
