Brac Bank cancels card transactions with Evaly, 9 others

Brac Bank recently notified its customers of having cancelled card transactions with 10 e-commerce platforms.

They are Evaly, Alesha Mart, Dhamaka, E-orange, Sirajganj Shop, Aladiner Prodip, Qcoom, BoomBoom Shopping, Adyan Mart and Needs.

"BRAC Bank Credit, Debit and Pre-paid card transactions for the listed merchants are cancelled with immediate effect," the bank said in a web link provided through SMS to customers.

The move comes amidst an increasing number of customers who made purchases at e-commerce sites raising allegations of not getting products in due time.

In some cases, the payments had been made months in advance through cards or mobile financial services.

"This is our strategic decision. We will initially implement the decision for the time being, but it may continue for a long time depending on the situation," said Selim RF Hussain, managing director of Brac Bank.

This is not the first time Brac Bank severed ties with such companies in the interest of both clients and banks, he said.

He declined to further comment on the issue.

Evaly, one of the top e-commerce sites, has had its official Facebook page crowded with a slew of complaints of customers seeking either products or refunds after making payment months in advance.

The platform did not immediately respond to a request of The Daily Star for comments.

Alesha Nahid Apu, executive director for marketing and communication at Alesha Holdings, one of the concerns of which is Alesha Mart, said it was a decision of the Brac Bank management and a matter of their policy.

"So, we have nothing to say about their decision," said Apu.

"But at our end, we think if they check the matter for which they have taken this decision, then it will be resolved because there is no problem from our side," added Apu.