The use of online platforms for Eid-centric shopping in the country has reached new heights. According to people related to the sector, the number of orders in e-commerce and f-commerce combined has exceeded 20 million on Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha. Although the digital sacrifice market has been closed under government management, the sale of animals and sacrifice services are ongoing through various online platforms and agro-based organizations.
According to Center for Digital Commerce Research and Advocacy (CDCRA), currently the size of the country’s e-commerce market is 60,000 to 65,000 crore; which controls 12 to 15 percent of the domestic retail economy. A major part of this comes from festive shopping. During the current Eid season, the country’s e-commerce market has transacted 8 to 10 thousand crore rupees. This year, the number of orders on mainstream e-commerce sites and social media-based f-commerce platforms has exceeded 20 million between the two Eids; Which is more than any previous Eid season.
E-commerce entrepreneurs’ organization E-CAB (E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh) General Manager and Head of Secretariat SM Ikramul Haque told Ajker newspaper, ‘We don’t have any statistics so far. However, talking to our members, I have learned that the amount of orders is much higher this time. Can be said to be the highest ever. Many are already out of stock.’
The journey of e-commerce started in Bangladesh around 2009. The concerned persons say that the sector has gained momentum since 2012-13. And due to the corona lockdown, after 2020, all the buyers and sellers started leaning towards this sector. Since then, sales in the digital commerce sector have been increasing almost every year as digital payment and logistics services spread across the country.
E-commerce entrepreneur and analyst Sohel Mridha said online shopping on Eid is no longer city-centric. A large number of orders are coming not only from big cities, but also from district and upazila levels. The use of digital payments has also increased significantly. Due to hot weather, traffic jams and hostile environment, many people are now ordering from home instead of going out.
Sohel Mridha said that 1 crore 2 crore to 1 crore 5 crore customers have done online shopping this Eid. In the last two weeks before Eid, an average of 350,000 to 400,000 products are being delivered every day, which is almost 3 times more than the normal period.
The people concerned said that although Eid-ul-Azha is the Eid of animal sacrifice, clothing and fashion-related products are the most sold online. Clothing, footwear and cosmetic products account for almost half of the total order. Apart from this, sales of electronic products and various home decor and home appliances have also increased.
Meanwhile, in 2020, online buying and selling of sacrificial animals started as a government initiative. 27 thousand animals were sold that year. The next year it increased to 3 lakh 87 thousand. Then 70 thousand 570 animals were sold in 2022, 56 thousand 821 animals in 2023 and finally 50 thousand 933 animals were sold in 2024. After that, the operation of this market was closed during the last Eid-ul-Azha. This year also this market is closed.
E-Cab says that even though digital huts are closed under government management, the online sales of private entrepreneurs are bustling. Along with the old agro firms, the new entrepreneurs are also getting an unexpected response this time. But there are some risks. Entrepreneurs say that as the market grows, so does the risk of fraud. Small entrepreneurs are facing huge losses due to fake orders and fake pages.
