Uber taxi service hits Dhaka streets

[Russell]

Every other non defence thread gets put in here...so, I'm going to post this in here too.


Star Online Report

Uber, a popular taxi-hailing mobile application, is launched in Dhaka today promising to bring a change in the commuting experience in the busy capital.

The world's largest on-demand mobility platform will be available in Dhaka to offer safe, reliable and affordable rides at the push of a button while opening up flexible, economic opportunities for driver-partners, according to a Uber press release.

An American multinational online transportation network company headquartered in San Francisco, California, Uber offers App-based taxi service allowing customers with smartphones to submit a trip request. Photo courtesy: Benchmarkpr
Among one of their first users in Dhaka, Sharier Khan, an Uttara resident, said it took him only BDT 400 to come from Uttara to his office in the city’s Karwan Bazar.

He used the Uber app on their smartphones to submit a trip request.

“This was a significantly lower fare than other taxi services that I have used in Dhaka. My fare metered at Tk 400 compared to Tk 600 for other taxis on the same route,” said Sharier Khan, greatly pleased with the service.

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was also one of the first to use the Uber app to commute in Dhaka and posted about the experience on his official Facebook page.

“Grameenphone’s partnership with Uber will enable our customers to use Uber’s innovative service in a very convenient way. We believe this partnership will be a tremendous addition to the digital lifestyle of our customers,” the press release quotes Chief Marketing Officer Of Grameenphone Ltd Yasir Azman as saying.

You can experience Uber in this fast and very simple way:

-Download the free app from the Apple Store or Google Play

-Sign up using your phone number and email

-Request a ride and a driver will pick you up within minutes

-Simply pay in cash at the end of the ride


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Yet to try it...let's see if this helps to sort out the monopoly CNG drivers have over the transport in the city

 

[Homo Sapiens]

Uber growing in Dhaka
Golam Mortaza | Update: 15:48, Apr 27, 2017

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The services of Uber, the California-based transportation network company, are gradually being expanded in the Dhaka city.

According to Uber, which offers rental car service through a smartphone app, the numbers of passengers and drivers have been increasing by 10 per cent every month since its inception in the city five months ago.

The upswing in Dhaka stands the highest among the Asian cities, Uber said.

Users satisfied while drivers, owners get profit

Uber user Moriam Nesa is happy with the service. "An interesting thing is we can avail air-conditioned cars costing nearly the same amount of money we pay for a ride in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw," she observed.

"Uber has also made a good impression in terms of security for women riders, which is another good sign" she added.

Abdullah Mamun, who works for a private organisation, said, "We can call an Uber car sitting at home and there is no hassle while paying the fare."

An Uber car driver said one can make Tk 1,500-2,000 a day driving a car on Uber network.

"If you have a good car or a new one you can earn more than that," he added.

Legal blanket

The road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader thinks that the service must run under a 'systematic management'.

He recently said, "We welcome the new technology. A committee has been formed to bring the service under a system. A discussion is going on in this regard."

BRTA director Nazmul Ahsan Mazumdar, who is chief of the committee, on 19 April said, "Report on Uber has not been finished as yet. They (Uber authorities) have submitted a report including their business policies and plans in Bangladesh. We have talked with them over the issue. The report will be completed by this week."

Uber's reply

An email was sent to Uber's communication unit seeking information over the on-going discussion between its Dhaka office and the government. In a reply, Uber authorities mentioned Uber as a 'smartphone app' and its service a 'ride sharing' arrangement.

Uber said it is now working with the Bangladesh government. They will be happy if the discussion finds any solution, it added.

*This piece, originally published in Prothom Alo Bangla print edition, has been rewritten in English by Toriqul Islam.
http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/146525/Uber-growing-in-Dhaka