Ride-sharing operators disappointed by BRTA decision
Bangladesh Ride Sharing Association (BaRSA) today expressed disappointment at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) decision to allow only 255 four-wheelers with enlistment certificates for ride-sharing services in Dhaka and adjacent areas.
The ride-sharing association was also upset by BRTA's decision to continue the suspension of two-wheelers.
They called for an immediate resumption of services with all types of vehicles, subject to compliance with standard operating procedures they proposed to BRTA.
It also asked the authorities to allow operation of all vehicles registered on ride-sharing applications until the enlistment process is fully implemented over a one-year timeframe.
"We do not believe that our large customer base can be reliably served by such a small and inadequate pool of vehicles," BaRSA, a platform of 11 ride-sharing companies, said in a press statement tonight.
"We had formally requested BRTA multiple times to resolve the technical limitations in its enlistment portal, and allow a one-year timeframe to facilitate smooth and systematic issuance of enlistment certificates," it said.
While these issues remain unresolved, the drastic measure outlined in the BRTA directive is a blow to an entire industry that has created opportunities for a vast population, it said.
"We cannot see how the public interest of middle-class commuters and aspiring young income-earners has been served by this decision.
"We also note, that the ride-sharing industry has been poorly represented in the deliberations, and this is evident in the outcome. An international ride-sharing operator had unilaterally approached and presented its recommendations to the regulators, excluding the local operators from this process," it added.
As a result, the discussions failed to incorporate local voices that would have highlighted the needs of everyday commuters in Bangladesh who rely upon affordable transportation options such as motorbikes, and the plight of the underemployed youth who rely upon ride-sharing for their livelihood, the association added in the statement.
Only 255 cars, microbuses and ambulances will be allowed to provide ride-sharing services from today, as BRTA decided to permit only enlisted vehicles to provide the services.
BRTA also announced that no motorcycle would be allowed to operate under the service at the moment due to health safety reasons. They sent a letter to all 12 ride-sharing companies in this regard.
The letter is also available on BRTA's official website.
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