Staff Correspondent
The government is planning to enhance the ride-sharing services in other cities across the country gradually alongside Dhaka.
Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Qader on Thursday disclosed the government planning after a delegation led by the east-regional Public Policy chief of ride-sharing firm Uber Chand Tulal Majumder met with the minister at his office.
Uber officials Iravati Demel and Zulqar Qazi Islam, among others, also accompanied the delegation.
Obaidul Qader, also the general secretary of ruling Bangladesh Awami League, said, “Process for the registration of different ride-sharing companies in capital Dhaka has already started since July 1, 2019. The registration process is one among other initiatives taken to mitigate the mass transportation crisis. With this process, public movement in the capital will be easier.”
The companies that are already engaged in the ride-sharing services will get priorities to run their service in other cities.
Talking to the delegation, Obaidul Qader put emphasis on the security of the passengers as saying, “Some allegations have been received against the ride-sharing services, security issue will be given more priority and measures will be taken if such allegations are found.”
Sources of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) said, at least 20 ride-sharing firms are active in the capital. But all of those app-based firms are running business without registrations. The BRTA official sources, however, said, at least 16 firms have already applied to the BRTA as well as to the government for their registration.
Of the firms, the Uber Bangladesh Limited, Pathao Limited and Shohoz launched ridesharing services in Bangladesh in 2016. Apart from those, some other firms like Pickme Limited, Chaldal Limited, Akash Technology Limited, Golden Rain Limited, Obhai Solutions Limited, Rider Rideshare Inc Limited, Easier Technologies Limited, Akij Online Limited and Computer System Network Limited, Obon and Lily also applied for registrations.
