Ecommerce Business In Bangladesh: Most Profitable Enterprise

Currently, ecommerce business in Bangladesh is the most popular, trendy, and profitable enterprise. The most exciting part is that it’s bringing millions of dollars in revenue annually to Bangladesh.  

Based on the trade research institution research and markets.com, presently, the bangladesh e-commerce market size is Tk56,870 crore and is forecasted to reach Tk1.5 lakh crore by 2026. 

One of the biggest reasons for the rapid popularity of e-commerce business is the availability of innovative & digital technology in every hand. 

People can now buy and sell anything using an e-commerce website anytime. The e commerce industry in Bangladesh has opened up a new pace of shopping and spending time online. 

People now shop for anything anytime, precisely without physically going to any shopping mall. In the initial days, people used to be afraid to purchase anything using the internet, but as time went on, the new generation accepted it as a regular practice of life. 

The e commerce industry in Bangladesh is classified into four different parts 

• Business To Business (B2B)
• Business To Consumer (B2C)
• Consumer To Consumer (C2C)
• Customer to Business (C2B)

Raise Of E Commerce Business In Bangladesh

The revolution of e-commerce business in Bangladesh started in the early 2000s when Bangladesh wasn’t advanced in the internet era. When ordering online, it is something really huge for everyone. 

But after the year 2008-2009, when Bangladesh Bank legalised online transactions, people got the courage and trust to purchase online. 

Slowly, this ecommerce business has opened different new sectors of ecommerce business jobs, ecommerce entrepreneurship, and many more. 

Ajkerdeal and Bagboom was the first ecommerce website in the ecommerce industry. Even though they were the first mover, they couldn’t crack the ecommerce industry. 

But after 2012-2013, different ecommerce companies entered and took this industry to new heights. As per ecommerceDB.Com, Bangladesh will earn US$7,520.3 million in 2023. Bangladesh is expected to earn a compound annual growth rate of 15.8%, with a forecasted market volume of $13,502.8.

Currently, there are a lot of ecommerce platforms that are successfully running their ecommerce business. Here are 15 examples of ecommerce businesses 
 

1. Daraz Bangladesh- Online Shopping In Bangladesh 
2. Chaldal- Grocery Delivered at your Doorstep
3. Pickaboo- Your Trusted Partner For Hassle Free Online Shopping 
4. Rokomari-Best Online Book Shop In Bangladesh 
5. Bagdoom-  Online Shopping BD
6. Othoba-Hassle Free Online Shopping In Bangladesh
7. Priyoshop- Online Shopping In Bangladesh 
8. Pathao Shop-Your One Stop Shop
9. Bikroy.com- Electronics, Cars, Property and Jobs in Bangladesh
10. AjkerDeal- Online Shopping BD (Fashion,Electronics & Gadget)
11. ShebaXYZ-Get expert professional service at home in Bangladesh  
12. ClickBD- The largest ecommerce site in Bangladesh 
13. Sohoz- Bangladesh’s largest online ticket destination 
14. Bdjobs- Largest job site in Bangladesh 
15. Rail sheba-Bangladesh railway E-ticketing service 

Top 6 Ecommerce Websites In Bangladesh(Based On Product Variety, UX/UI, Review/Rating And Pricing)

Yes, it's true that now the Bangladesh ecommerce industry is getting saturated day by day. Now, almost every business has an online page and advanced AI chatbot for the customer's convenience.

Almost every business in Bangladesh maintains two modes of selling products: one is a physical store, and the other is an online shopping store. 

Among hundreds of them and, each with a different niche, we will discuss the top 6 ecommerce businesses in Bangladesh. This six ecommerce platform is not only top but also popular based on customer choice. 

1. Daraz Bangladesh

Daraz Bangladesh is one of the most trendy, popular, strong fan bases and the largest e-commerce platform in Bangladesh. 

After Daraz and Alibaba's acquisition, they started their journey in Bangladesh in 2012. 

Not only in Bangladesh, Daraz also operates in Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.

Daraz holds millions of trusted sellers, and most of them are dropshippingers and drop Surfingers. 

Daraz offers a huge number of product categories such as 

• Women's & Girls' Fashion
• Health & Beauty
• Watches, Bags. Jewellery
• Men's & Boys' Fashion
• Mother & Baby
• Electronics Devices
• TV & Home Appliances
• Electronic Accessories
• Groceries
• Home & Lifestyle
• Sports & Outdoors
• Automotive & Motorbike

Image source: Semrush 

After so many years of efforts and dedication, Daraz has gained popularity by providing authentic products, a secure payment gateway and an almost 20 million range of product categories. 

If you look closely at the analysis collected from semrush, we can see that Daraz Bangladesh has 2.2 million of organic search traffic(monthly users) per month.  

Here are some extraordinary features of Daraz Bangladesh: 

• Trusted seller 
• Friendly UX/UI
• Sorted & hassle-free return policy 
• Multiple product range 
• Reasonable price range 
• Policy for fastest delivery 
• Easy navigating system for websites and apps
• Attractive discounts and offers 
• Merge with different brands & financial institutions

​​​​2. Chaldal

Even Though there was a massive dominance in the ecommerce market, in 2013, Chaldal started their operation with a different niche, which is delivering groceries. Currently, Chaldal is successfully running all over Bangladesh. 

Because of this extraordinary idea of choosing different & specific niches helps to grab the attention of the mass people. Chaldal started its journey focusing on the other side of the industry, such as targeting the grocery side. Chaldal offers every kind of grocery product, different appliances, materials and many more. And the most attractive thing about Chaldal is their fastest delivery service and secure payment gateway. 

Image source: Semrush 

Chaldal has achieved recognition as the largest grocery ecommerce store in Bangladesh. And among these years, Chaldal has achieved 262.5k monthly customers. 

Extraordinary categories of Chaldal:

• Food items
• Cleaning Supplies
• Personal Care
• Health & Wellness
• Baby Care
• Home & Kitchen
• Stationery & Office
• Pet Care
• Toys & Sports
• Beauty & MakeUp
• Fashion & Lifestyle
• Vehicle Essentials

3. Pickaboo

Pickaboo is recognised as one of the best omnichannel ecommerce platforms in Bangladesh. Pickaboo is registered under Silver Water Technologies Limited. They started their operation in January 2016 and kept the niche only limited to electronic devices. 

Even Though they were late in entering the industry, they still successfully gained popularity by providing the fastest customer support and product quality.

Presently, Pickaboo is known for having the largest collection of electronic devices such as mobile, laptops, electronics & appliances, computer accessories and lifestyle. 

Extraordinary categories of Pickaboo 

• Smartphones
• Electronics & Appliances
• Mobile Accessories
• Computers
• Computer Accessories
• Lifestyle

Image source: Semrush 

Through this year, Pickaboo has occupied a stronger position in the ecommerce industry in Bangladesh. Currently, Pickaboo gets 110.8k monthly organic search traffic, which means per month, Pickaboo gets almost 110.8k customers. 

4. Bikroy.com

Even though Bikroy.com was the early bird in the e-commerce industry, it still needed to tap ecommerce on a larger scale. Bikroy.com started its operation in 2012. 

Their main niche is to provide a platform so that anyone can buy and sell second-hand items free of advertisement charge. 

To maintain the platform's authenticity, the admin strictly checks all the ads before publishing live. 

Extraordinary Categories of Bikroy.com

• Mobiles
• Electronics
• Vehicles
• Home & Living
• Pets & Animals
• Property
• Men's Fashion & Grooming
• Women's Fashion & Beauty
• Hobbies, Sports & Kids
• Business & Industry
• Essentials
• Education
• Agriculture
• Services
• Jobs
• Overseas Jobs
   

Image source: Semrush 

Since 2012, Bikroy.com has become a popular ecommerce platform to buy & sell second-hand products. And according to Semrush, per month, Bikroy.com earns 670.9k organic traffic.  

5. Rokomari

Rokomari is another leading ecommerce platform in Bangladesh. Basically, Rokomari has a sole niche and is also recognised as the most extensive online bookstore & accessories ecommerce platform. Rokomari works under the association of the Onokorom Group.  

Rokomari's primary goal is to sell different types of books, handcrafted items, home appliances, gift items, paintings and other stationary items. Rokomari.com has the most straightforward UX/UI, where you can find & order any book by searching through the publisher or writer's name.  

Extraordinary categories of Rokomari.com

• Gift finder 
• Institutional order 
• Offers 
• Quiz
• Book of various writers
• Subject
• Electronics
• Publication
• Manihari products 
• Kids Zone
• Buy 1 Get 1 Offer
• HSC+Admission Books
• Book fair 2023

Image source: Semrush 

According to the latest data on semrush, per month, Rokomari gets almost 363.6k organic traffic.  

6. ShebaXYZ

ShebaXYZ is the first ecommerce platform in Bangladesh which is service-based. Shebaxyz started their journey in 2015. Mainly their service is specially for office & home, specifically in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Exclusive categories of ShebaXYZ

• Gas Stove/Burner Services
• Plumbing & Sanitary Services
• Painting Services
• Home Cleaning
• Premium Pest Control
• House Shifting Services
• AC Servicing (For Single Split AC Unit)
• Salon Care
• Home Cleaning
• DigiG0
• On-Demand Driver
• Refrigerator Service 

Image source: Semrush 

Based on semrush’s recent data, Shebaxyz gains almost 14k organic traffic per month. 

Is Ecommerce Business A Profitable Business Policy?

Yes, ecommerce in Bangladesh is, of course, a profitable and trendy business worldwide. According to insider intelligence, ecommerce might reach up to 23% of retail sales within 2025. Not only does website-based e-commerce help in the ecommerce industry, but also Mcommerce and Fcommerce highly contribute to growing this industry.  

E Commerce Business Licence In Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, starting an ecommerce business(e-cab) typically requires several legal steps and licences to operate legally. Here are the key steps to obtain the necessary licences and registrations for an e-commerce business in Bangladesh: 

• Register Your Business

Firstly, ecommerce entrepreneurs must register their business with the appropriate government authorities. They can choose to register their business as a sole proprietorship, partnership, private limited company, or any other suitable legal structure.

• Tax Identification Number (TIN)

Obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN) from the National Board of Revenue (NBR). Ecommerce entrepreneurs will need this to pay taxes and conduct financial transactions.

• Trade License

Apply for a trade licence from the local city corporation or municipal authority. This licence is necessary for running any type of business in Bangladesh.

• e-TIN Certificate

If an ecommerce business deals with a significant number of transactions, ecommerce entrepreneurs should get an electronic TIN (e-TIN) certificate. This certificate is required for the business to be recognized for tax purposes.

• VAT Registration

Register the e-commerce business for Value Added Tax (VAT) with the NBR. This is mandatory for businesses engaged in the sale of goods and services.

• E-commerce Association Registration

Consider becoming a member of the e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB). This is not a government requirement, but it can provide networking opportunities and resources for e-commerce businesses.

• Domain and Hosting Registration

If an entrepreneur plans to have an online presence, he/she must register a domain name for your website and acquire web hosting services from a reliable provider.

• Bank Account

Open a business bank account in the name of the e-commerce business. This will be used for financial transactions, including receiving payments from customers.

• Payment Gateway Setup

If entrepreneurs plan to accept online payments, set up a payment gateway for the e-commerce website. He/she may need to work with banks or payment service providers to enable secure online transactions.

• Intellectual Property Rights

If you sell products under a specific brand name or logo, consider trademark registration to protect your intellectual property.

• Data Protection and Privacy Compliance

It's essential to consult with a legal professional or business advisor in Bangladesh to navigate the specific legal requirements for your e-commerce business, as regulations may change over time. 

Disclaimer##

Ecommerce entrepreneurs should familiarise themself with the latest tax and business regulations from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Ministry of Commerce in Bangladesh.

Key Marketing Demographics of Ecommerce Business in Bangladesh 

Since the availability of widespread Internet in Bangladesh in the early 2000s, the e-commerce industry started to grow in a drastic range. This online business industry got pace after Bangladesh Bank permitted online transactions & the buying and selling of anything using an international credit card in 2013. 

Currently, in 2023, the eCommerce Association of Bangladesh (e-Cab)-2017 predicted that there will be almost 700 ecommerce sites and 8000 F-commerce pages. 

Image source:statista

Bangladesh's Market Current Trend 

Bangladesh follows four types of ecommerce business criteria:

• Business-to-Business (B2B)
• Business-to-Consumer (B2C)
• Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C)
• Business-to-Employees (B2E)

Generally, the people of Bangladesh prefer cash on delivery instead of using debit and credit. Besides, Bangladesh faces some severe challenges in the ecommerce industry. Challenges such as: 

• Not enough delivery companies 
• Low internet penetration rate 
• Online frauds 
• Not so strong privacy policy or return policy 

Domestic Ecommerce(B2C)

Bangladesh also has different ecommerce domestic ecommerce sites like different online food delivery services such as Foodpanda, Pathao Food, etc. This online food delivery service business has drastically helped different restaurant businesses to boost up their sales also in the period of a pandemic. 

B2B eCommerce 

Bangladesh also follows B2B ecommerce in different industrial sectors, such as manufacturing and supply chain industries. Besides, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers Employee Association (BGMEA) established a new system of B2B ecommerce solutions for international RMG sectors and domestic garments. 

Cross Border e-commerce: 

Cross-border e-commerce was also gaining momentum, with many Bangladeshi consumers making purchases from international websites. This had implications for customs and import regulations.

Online Payment 

According to Bangladesh's perspective, cash on delivery is the safest and most reliable transaction method for ecommerce business. As per e-Cab data, 90%+ of e-commerce end-user choices choose COD getaway mode. Most ecommerce platforms offer multiple types of transaction modes.  

Mobile Ecommerce 

International Telecommunication Union(ITU) confirmed that almost 88.1% are mobile data users, while 30% are broadband subscribers. Bangladesh is moving forward to a new milestone, which is mobile banking. Mobile banking includes cash-in, cash-out, merchant payments, utility payments, salary disbursement, foreign remittances, and fund transfers.

Legal & Regulatory Environmental

To protect the privacy of both buyer and seller, Bangladesh has developed an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act of 2006. In the ICT act, it's been clearly stated that any kind of fraud will result in imprisonment/fines. 

Conclusion

The e-commerce business in Bangladesh was a dynamic and growing industry as of 2022, driven by increasing internet penetration, changing consumer preferences, and a supportive regulatory environment. 

It was an industry with considerable potential for further expansion, but it also faced challenges that needed to be addressed, such as building trust and improving logistics. 

To get the most up-to-date information on the state of e-commerce in Bangladesh, it's advisable to consult recent reports and news sources.