ACC imposes travel ban on Evaly MD Rassel and his wife
The ACC launched an inquiry against Evaly following a commerce ministry request
The Anti-Corruption Commssion (ACC) has imposed a travel ban on e-commerce platform Evaly's Chairman Shamima Nasrin and Managing Director Mohammad Rassel, barring them from leaving the country as the commission has started an inquiry into allegation of embezzling Tk338 crore.
The ACC launched an inquiry against Evaly following a commerce ministry request for legal action over alleged embezzlement of Tk338 crore Evaly took in advance from customers and owed to merchants.
The commission on Thursday formed a two-member probe panel, led by ACC Assistant Director Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury. The other member of the team is Deputy Assistant Director Shihab Salam.
On 4 July, the commerce ministry sent separate letters to the home ministry, the ACC, the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and the Bangladesh Competition Commission to take legal action against Evaly by investigating the non-delivery of goods after accepting Tk214 crore in advance payment from customers and the refund of Tk190 crore owed to businesses.
In an inspection report submitted to the commerce ministry last month, the Bangladesh Bank said Evaly's total liability was Tk407.18 crore.
After receiving Tk213.94 crore in advance from customers and Tk189.85 crore from merchants, the company was expected to have at least Tk403.80 crore in current assets, but it had only Tk65.17 crore.
Expressing concern that the amount of Evaly's liability to customers and merchants may be higher, the Bangladesh Bank mentioned in the report that this is the reason why the Evaly authorities did not allow the inspection team to enter the company's replica database.
Asked for his comment on the inquiry, Evaly Managing Director and CEO Mohammad Rassel told TBS that they will cooperate with the investigation team.
He, however, claimed the gap between assets and liabilities is due to the costs of business development and it was not embezzlement.
Mohammad Rassel said that he has taken the travel ban positively.
"We are involvement with the biggest company of Bangladesh. May be earlier they never expressed this fear due love for me; we have done business with all of them.", he said.
"Now they will get more confidence and currently we have started business mostly in profit, he said, adding that customer's money won't reach Evaly according to the new policy.
And proper investigation will show that in what extend Evaly's old orders are being delivered, Rassel said.
Evaly has faced losses for business development which will be recovered by business shortly as Evaly's buying price is much lower than the market price, he stated.
"The government is working for the public interests; I would request no one should deliver negative comments about the investigation with excessive encouragement.", he added
Responding the reporters about multiple visa, he said "We didn't have any multiple visas and still don't have any. We have never applied for foreign citizenship although has some tours outside the country."
"This country is ours, we want to work for all", he stated.