The government introduced the ‘Ride-Sharing Service Policy 2017’ with the aim to provide a technology-based, modern transport system for city dwellers. However, the reality is now different and in practice the sector has become unregulated, riddled with irregularities, and a source of frustration for both drivers and passengers.
According to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), 15 local and international companies have been approved to operate ride-sharing services in the country. These include Pickme Ltd., Computer Network Systems Ltd., Obhai Solutions Ltd., Chaldal Ltd., Pathao Ltd., Ezzyr Technologies Ltd., Akash Technology Ltd., Segesta Ltd., Shohoz Ltd., Uber Bangladesh Ltd., Bari Ltd., Akij Online Ltd., Jatri Services Ltd., Digital Ride Ltd., and Asian Transport Network Ltd.
But the market is effectively dominated by just two companies — Pathao and Uber.
BRTA lacks reliable data on the number of active drivers under these companies, though industry insiders estimate it to be nearly 400,000. Of them only 40,000 are private car driver while the rest are motorcycle drivers. In reality, 13 of the approved companies are non-functional. Attempts to reach them via the contact details provided in their official documents yielded no response, and many of their offices were found to be non-existent.
BRTA Director (Engineering) Shitangshu Shekhar Biswas said letters have been issued to these companies to resume operations, failing which, the process of licence cancellation will begin. He also confirmed that BRTA’s executive magistrates, in coordination with law enforcement, were conducting regular drives against those offering rides without using apps.
He added, “Currently, only Uber and Pathao are operating, and we are closely monitoring their activities.” On the closure of many approved companies’ offices, he thought that they might have intentionally cut off communication or ceased operations.
He advised passengers to avoid rides outside official apps and urged companies to operate more responsibly.
Multiple BRTA sources told the Bangladesh Post that some companies bypassed guidelines by acquiring enlistment certificates in exchange for money. According to section 6.5 of the ride-sharing policy, companies must have a physical office within the service area and at least 100 registered vehicles within the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) zone.
The Consumers Protection Council, a passenger rights group, claims that nearly 1.1 million trips take place daily, but the government receives VAT for only 65% of them. The rest are done in cash or go unreported, leading to revenue loss.
The 2017 guidelines stipulate mandatory BRTA registration, a vehicle age limit (5 years for private cars, 3 years for motorcycles), a minimum of one year’s driving experience, and use of SOS, GPS, e-fare, and digital transaction systems. In reality, both drivers and companies flout these rules, more often that that charging fares above official rates.
Job-holder Zahidul Islam shared that though the app showed Tk 250, the driver demanded Tk 300 in cash and refused to change the destination mid-ride.
Similarly, Fatema Akter, a student of Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College, reported frequent fare manipulation and drivers turning off apps to avoid accountability.
Complaints have also been raised against Uber and Pathao regarding passenger harassment, misconduct of drivers, lack of emergency (SOS) features, and alleged sharing of personal data abroad.
A senior BRTA official, requesting anonymity, acknowledged the lack of manpower and technological capacity to monitor ride-sharing companies effectively. He noted that the SOS feature’s functionality largely depends on police response.
He further alleged that Uber and Pathao collect extra fares in violation of regulations, and that BRTA lacks an effective platform to address such complaints, allowing these companies to continue unregulated.
A former BRTA official commented that the influence of major ride-sharing companies, especially Uber—operated mainly from India—has grown so vast that authorities often feel helpless to intervene.
He highlighted that sharing user data abroad violates national policy and poses security risks.
The Labour Reform Commission has recommended recognising ride-sharing drivers as workers, ensuring fair wages, labour rights, and a safe working environment. It also proposed a regulatory body to oversee the sector.
Drivers allege that Uber deducts excessive commissions, forcing them to offer rides outside the app, resulting in fare disputes and higher charges for passengers.
Kamrul Hasan, founder of the Dhaka Ride-Sharing Drivers Union, said Uber drivers face unresolved issues due to the ineffectiveness of the local office, which only acts as a monitoring cell. All data are managed from India, raising security concerns.
He alleged that Uber deducts Tk 20 per Tk 100 earned, plus other illegal charges, exploiting both drivers and passengers.
According to BRTA sources, since the launch of ride-sharing in Bangladesh, there have been complaints of irregularities and monopolisation. One company, Computer Network Systems Ltd. (CNS), has dominated most of the government tech tenders and is also a registered ride-sharing operator — a dual role that raises transparency concerns.
Experts link the decline of traditional taxi services since 2018 to the growing influence of ride-sharing platforms like Uber and CNS, which have shaped policies to sideline conventional transport.
CNS’s control of public infrastructure and private services has drawn criticism for undermining competition. When contacted, CNS owner Ekramul Haque said he was currently in makkah and would respond after returning.
Secretary of the Passengers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh, Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, blamed BRTA’s inefficiency for the sector’s chaos. He pointed out that many licensed companies failed to operate due to lack of cooperation, allowing giants like Uber and Pathao to dominate and set fares arbitrarily.
He also raised concerns about data security, saying that foreign firms like Uber potentially export sensitive user information, posing a threat to national security.
Attempts by The Bangladesh Post to contact ride-sharing companies yielded little response.
When contacted, a person identifying himself as Sami-Ul-Washak at Uber denied being the spokesperson and ended the call.
However, BRTA Deputy Director Md Faruq Ahmed later confirmed that Sami-Ul-Washak is Uber’s official point of contact.
Similarly, Pathao’s legal manager, Abdur Rahman, responded to an initial call and asked for questions via WhatsApp but did not follow up.
