Russel, Shamima used to draw Tk 10 lakh salaries holding payment to employees

Embattled Evaly Chief Executive Officer Md Russel and his wife and chairman of the e-commerce company Shamima Nasrin used to receive salary Tk 5 lakh each per month although they did not pay a single paisa to the employees since June last.

They used to ride on expensive cars (Range Rover and Audi) at the expense of the organisation. The company also bought 25 to 30 vehicles.

During interrogation by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the two arrested bosses of the company made the statements.

Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of the RAB's legal and media wing, disclosed the information at a press conference at the RAB headquarters in the capital's Kurmitola Friday noon.

The e-commerce company started journey with 2,000 employees which reduced to 1,300 permanent staffs and 500 temporary employees eventually.

Russel and his wife said have lands worth several crore taka and other assets in various parts of the country. Evaly has head office and customer care at two separate places of Dhanmondi in the capital. It has warehouses in Aminbazar and Savar.

Salaries of the employees gradually declined from Tk 5 crore to 1.5 crore. The company did not pay any salaries to many employees since June last.

Evaly has various businesses including e-food, e-book and e-market. Starting with a small investment, the company became a mountain out of a molehill by exploiting and depriving customers. The company’s business strategy was to withdraw huge sums of money from manufacturers and customer chains or networks. It used to take advance money from the aspirant buyers of costly products and make delivery to the old customers who submitted money long ago. So doing, the company is always in possession of huge money of the customers.

Innocent peopled used to be tempted with huge discount and cash back offers announced by Evaly.