Foodpanda’s excessive charges spark ongoing boycott in Ctg

The Chittagong city chapter of the Bangladesh Restaurant Owners’ Association has declared the continuation of its boycott against multinational food delivery platform Foodpanda, strongly condemning the company's aggressive commission structures, hidden fees, and unilateral business policies that exploit local enterprises and inflate food costs for everyday consumers.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Barcode Food Junction in Chittagong on Thursday (October 15), General Secretary of the association Monjurul Haq announced that the service suspension will remain in place indefinitely following Foodpanda's failure to address reasonable demands before the October 15 deadline.

Restaurant leaders expressed intense dissatisfaction over Foodpanda's exploitative financial practices. They revealed that the platform extracts exorbitant commissions alongside hidden charges, including order cancellation penalties and mandatory ad-spend requirements. 

When combined with discounts forced upon vendors, total cuts imposed by the delivery giant frequently exceed 50 per cent of an order’s sale price. Restaurant operators noted that after meeting overheads such as shop rent, employee salaries, and utility bills, these aggressive deductions leave local kitchens operating at a loss, effectively forcing small businesses into financial distress.

This corporate greed directly harms the general public. To survive Foodpanda's heavy commission markups, restaurants are routinely forced to raise menu prices, shifting the burden of platform profiteering onto everyday consumers. Moreover, food delivery customers face separate "platform fees" and inflated delivery charges levied by the tech company.

The association demanded an immediate overhaul of Foodpanda’s charge structures, complete accounting transparency, and a cap on total commission fees at a fair 15 per cent to ensure a sustainable commercial ecosystem.

Restaurant owners emphasized that until Foodpanda abandons its monopolistic policies and establishes fair terms for local businesses and public consumers alike, all food deliveries via the platform will remain completely suspended across Chittagong. The association warned of further stringent action if the platform continues to disregard stakeholder concerns.

-SA