Ridesharing services resume after 19 days

Mobile app-based ridesharing services have started to ferry passengers from Wednesday as the government opened up business and traffic again after a 19-day break.

Ride sharing apps like Pathao, Uber, Obhai went into operation immediately after lifting the nationwide “strict lockdown” that started on July 23, 2021.

The reopening of app based ride-sharing services have finally brought a big smile to the drivers as many of them are dependent on this platform for their bread and butter as they were facing financial hardship because of frequent such shutdowns in the wake of Covid-19 break.

Abdur Razzak, a Pathao driver, said, “I am a singer and producer of state run BTV but the Coronavirus outbreak has shattered everything as all my TV programmes have been halted since then.”

“We faced financial meltdown for the Covid-19 outbreak as I lost my income from BTV and simultaneously from my ride-sharing business as well.”

Opening of ride-sharing travel services will help both the commuters and the drivers, he also added.

Md Kamrul Hasan, president of the Dhaka Ridesharing Drivers Union, an organisation of app-based drivers representing around 5,000 members, has welcomed the government move to lift the ban on ride sharing services. He said, after failing to get any job, many people engaged themselves with the app based ride- sharing driving to manage their livelihood but again Covid-19 brought a severe blow to them.”

“We don’t really know the logic behind the suspension of ride sharing services, keeping the mass transport operation open. We have tried our best to follow the government order but there were some exceptions as few people were forced to drive only for their survival,’’ he added.

“I would like to request the law enforcement agencies to be kind to us (drivers) as we are driving only for survival,” he added. Pathao, one of the leading market players in internet based service providers in a statement said that they resumed their operation Wednesday after a government notification that announced the relaxation of nationwide strict lockdown from August 11.

Pathao said, “Pathao, the country’s largest digital service platform, is resuming its full service from Wednesday. All of Pathao’s services, including Pathao Rides (motorcycle and cars), Food, Parcel, Courier, Health, and other regular services of the platform, will be available to the users. Pathao expects to continue to ensure full compliance with health and safety protection protocols by its users and service providers”.

Pathao President Fahim Ahmed said, “We welcome the government’s decision to relax the lockdown for the sake of economic recovery. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Pathao has placed relentless focus on ensuring the health and safety for the users. This time will also be no different as we are determined to keep moving Bangladesh by enabling a safe journey for our valued consumers and partners.”