App-based Transport Service: Guideline soon

The government is soon going to make app-based transport hailing services like Uber officially permitted under the “Ride Sharing Service Guideline”.

“We have primarily drafted a guideline for all app-based vehicles. We will sit today to finalise the draft and then send it to the ministry for final approval,” Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Director (enforcement) Nazmul Ahsan Majumder told The Daily Star yesterday. 

The move comes at a time when six to seven app-based transport hailing services, like Pathao, Cholo, Amarbike, Uber, and taxiwala, are already in service in Dhaka. 

The BRTA director said, “The app-based services should be under government monitoring. We have kept all the aspects of the services in our guideline. Information of how many vehicles will run on the street under this service, the details of the vehicles, vehicles' owners and drivers will be on BRTA record.”

The app-based hailing services have been well received by city dwellers, irrespective of their economic standings, largely due to convenience, easy availability and reasonable fares.

USA-based Datavoxel Ltd first brought Uber-style motorbike service app service in Bangladesh in May last year. Share a Motorcycle (SAM) was the first e-hailing platform in Bangladesh.

When SAM held a press conference about their service, the very next day BRTA issued a notice and said such services were illegal as motorcycles were registered privately so there was no scope for using them for commercial purposes.

Uber, a popular taxi-hailing mobile application, was launched in Dhaka on November 22 promising to bring a change in the commuting experience. The BRTA soon stepped in and said the ride-hailing service of Uber was in violation of the country's motor vehicles regulations.

Uber and other app-based transport services then urged the government to issue a guideline for app-based private transportation service providers.

Imtiaz Kasem, managing director of Datavoxel Ltd, said SAM welcomes the draft guideline.

Even though SAM and Uber issued proposals to the BRTA, where their business models were explained, the participation of the parties concerned in the discussion and publication of the guideline would have definitely helped to make the guideline better and flawless, he noted.

According to the draft, the app-based service providers have to pay the BRTA a one-time fee of Tk 50,000 for the app.

Apart from the fees, the service provider companies have to take permission from the Ministry of Information & Communication Technology for the apps. To operate any app-based transport service, a pool of at least 100 vehicles is set to be the minimum requirement.

An official of the BRTA said according to the proposed guideline a car owner has to pay the BRTA Tk 1,200 a year for each vehicle while a motorcycle owner has to pay Tk 800.

The BRTA in its proposed guideline stipulated a provision that in the apps there should be a feature through which the customer could file complaints and review the service.

Apart from these, there should be a feature through which a customer could get the contact numbers of the law enforcers, BRTA officials and other law enforcers to lodge complaints directly with them, said the draft guideline.

According to the draft, the BRTA shall have the right to cancel the registration of a car if the vehicle was used in a serious crime.

For security purposes, the owner and driver of a vehicle would have to provide their Tax Identification Number (TIN), National ID card number (NID) and copy of the driving licence to the BRTA officials along with the required documents of the vehicle.

Regarding the fare, the BRTA officials said if there was any public outrage over the fares, the BRTA could set the fare.

“We might not fix the fare of the app-based vehicle services. There is a monopoly of CNG auto-rickshaws and other taxi services. We would like to create a healthy competition among the service providers. Passengers will get more options … ,” said BRTA Director Nazmul Ahsan Majumder.

An Uber spokesperson told The Daily Star, “We commend the BRTA and the government of Bangladesh for their efforts towards determining regulations that can redefine our urban mobility landscape and help build smarter cities. Their vision on the future of transportation in Bangladesh is very forward looking, and one that will help the industry serve riders, drivers and cities like Dhaka better.

“We are committed to a constructive engagement with the BRTA and key government stakeholders to demonstrate how we can bring technology solutions to solve some of the most complex problems faced by cities today- namely, growing congestion and pollution, creation of economic opportunities and contribution to skilling initiatives.”