Highlights
- Daraz marks 10 years in Bangladesh, moving from a small online shop to a national digital ecosystem.
- Built strong infrastructure with its own logistics, courier license, and digital payment initiatives.
- Created shopping festivals like 11.11 and empowered thousands of small businesses.
- Supported women and youth through training, inclusivity programs, and leadership development.
- Faces challenges like counterfeits, VAT issues, and lack of a single governing authority.
- Calls for stronger government partnership to make e-commerce a true national industry.
Introduction: A Journey Beyond Shopping
Daraz’s 10-year journey in Bangladesh is more than just the story of an e-commerce company. It is the story of how an entire digital industry was built from scratch. A decade ago, online shopping was rare, uncertain, and filled with doubt. Today, it has become a part of everyday life. Its growth shows how vision, patience, and continuous investment can create lasting change.
Building the Foundations: Infrastructure First
When Daraz started, it faced many challenges: low consumer trust, poor logistics, and limited internet adoption. Instead of chasing quick profits, the company invested in the basic “pipes” of e-commerce.
- Daraz Express (DEX): Its own logistics network that now reaches almost every corner of Bangladesh, from Rangpur to Cox’s Bazar.
- Digibox: A locally made, IoT-enabled storage system that makes parcel collection and delivery easier.
- Courier Service License: Allowed Daraz to expand logistics beyond its own platform.
- Payment Service Provider (PSP) Approval: Pushed forward the adoption of secure digital payments.
These efforts made online shopping reliable and trustworthy for millions of users.
This not only built the systems but also created excitement around e-commerce. Its 11.11 campaign became a national shopping festival, where millions of people take part every year. Delivering hundreds of thousands of packages in a single day proved Its efficiency and built stronger consumer confidence.
Empowering Entrepreneurs and SMEs
One of the biggest contributions of Daraz has been to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
- Nationwide Access: Sellers can reach customers across Bangladesh.
- Daraz University: A free e-learning platform that trains entrepreneurs in digital skills, marketing, and online selling.
- Daraz Marketing Solutions (DMS): Offers data-driven advertising tools to help brands and SMEs reach the right buyers.
These initiatives have made business opportunities more equal and helped thousands of small sellers grow.
Creating Jobs and Supporting People
Daraz’s ecosystem now involves more than 550,000 people working in the industry. Beyond jobs, the company has focused on inclusivity and empowerment.
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dWomen Initiative (2024): A program to empower female employees.
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SheShines celebrates top-performing women.
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Employee Dialogue Forum allows open discussions.
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Mentorship programs guide young female professionals.
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Daraz Future Leaders Programme (DFLP): A 15-month training program to prepare fresh graduates for leadership roles in the digital economy.
Through these steps, Daraz is not only running a business but also building future leaders and supporting diversity in the workplace.
Challenges Along the Way
The journey has not been smooth. The e-commerce sector still faces issues such as:
- Fake or counterfeit products by dishonest sellers.
- A lack of a single government authority to regulate e-commerce.
- Higher VAT on commissions.
- No clear cross-border e-commerce policy.
Daraz has introduced solutions like Daraz Mall tags for authentic sellers, transparent ratings, and seller-buyer chat features. But stronger government support is needed to solve these problems on a larger scale.
Partnership with Government: The Next Step
The Company believes that government partnership is essential to take e-commerce to the next level.
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A single regulatory body could reduce bureaucracy and protect both buyers and sellers.
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A finalized cross-border e-commerce policy would open new markets for Bangladeshi products.
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More investment in digital literacy and internet access would expand the customer base.
The Company has already been active in advocacy, working with trade associations, forums, and government stakeholders to shape policies.
The Market and Future Potential
Bangladesh’s e-commerce industry is now valued at around Tk91,260 crore. However, online sales still make up only 3–5% of total retail. This means there is huge potential for growth if proper investment and training continue.
Daraz is already the go-to online marketplace for both global and local brands. Recent partnerships with Hisense, Honor, Crocodile BD, and New Zealand Dairy show that Daraz is trusted for authentic, high-quality products.
Conclusion: From Corporate Success to National Growth
In 10 years, Daraz has shown what is possible when strong infrastructure, long-term vision, and consistent execution come together. But the next stage is to make this progress national, not just corporate.
Daraz’s commitment is clear:
- Build a sustainable and reliable e-commerce ecosystem.
- Empower entrepreneurs and consumers.
- Work with the government to make e-commerce a true national growth engine.
The journey of Daraz is not just about online shopping—it is about shaping the future of Bangladesh’s digital economy.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
