Dhaka — Bangladesh mobile phone-based money transfer (MFS) service provider bKash has suspended payments to 10 online merchants, including Evaly and Alesha Mart.
Other companies on the ban list are E-Orange, Dhamaka Shopping, Sirajganj Shopping, Aladdin’s Lamp, Boom Boom, Qcom, Adian Mart and Needs.com BD. Shamsuddin Haider Dalim, Head of Corporate Communications, bKash, confirmed the matter.
“The bKash payment gateway has been temporarily closed for some merchants in the interest of customers at this time. If the payment system is effective as per the policy of the regulator, the bKash payment gateway will be re-opened.”
Earlier, several banks suspended their credit, debit and pre-paid card transactions with Evaly.
Among them are Dutch-Bangla Bank, Prime Bank, Mutual Trust Bank (MTB), BRAC Bank, Bank Asia, Dhaka Bank.
Besides, UCB and Citibank have also warned their customers about these online merchant transactions.
Meanwhile, a number of product suppliers contracted with Evaly are no longer offering the goods as they have not paid the dues against the vouchers.
A number of companies have recently issued notices banning purchases on Evaly’s gift vouchers.
Earlier, a report by Bangladesh Bank said that Evaly owed six times more than its assets. According to the report, the total liability of Evaly is Tk407 crore.
As per normal rules, the company should have at least Tk 404 crore in working assets. But the assets have only Tk65 crore.
Besides, there is no trace of advance Tk339 crore taken from customers and merchants till March 14. There is a risk of embezzling or illegally moving the money.
