The government has only two days left for taking public opinions on draft of apps-based Ride Sharing policy. However, it is still feared that massive anomalies will occur as necessary issues in the draft are not transparent.
There is allegation that Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) will loose control over the Apps companies rather the Government agency will be controlled by the Apps companies.
It is likely that if the Apps authorities like Uber charges illegal fair the government agency will have nothing to do.
It is learnt that the Apps dependent companies have become very glad to see the draft policy.
The policy has been drafted in the light of facilities enjoyed by Uber. The Ride sharing was not taken into consideration in the draft policy. Except Uber the other motor vehicles remain outside the purview of BRTA.
The draft policy is so incomplete that it seems BRTA has no idea about such service providers. Under these circumstances the Ride sharing companies have made their own policy to their undue benefits.
In the policy drafted by BRTA it was seen that Apps companies will have to start their business with at least 200 motor vehicles but there is no mentioning of maximum number of vehicles. Just at the moment only Uber has more that 35000 vehicles.
According to draft policy of BRTA, the company will have to pay Tk1200 for each car and Taka2,40,000 for 200 cars if deposited the company will be given permission for running the business.
But BRTA did not say anything if any one enrolled more vehicles in their pool. Concerned opined that there is enough chances of fraud in this regard.
According to the concerned transport sector people, the passengers will be suffered by the unapproved vehicles, because the BRTA has created these chances for the Uber companies.
In an analysis it was concluded that Uber with their 3500 vehicles would earn daily Taka 18 lakh.
It is learnt that Uber which was born in Sanfrancisco usually pay to the authority per ride but in Bangladesh after taking permission for only 200 vehicles they are doing business with more vehicles but remain untouched.
In the 3rd paragraph of the draft policy it is said that the driver will drive only the vehicle of that company with whom he has made agreement but no other company he is allowed. But in other parts of the world one driver can drive vehicles of any other Apps-dependent company he choose.
The 8th paragraph of the policy suggests that each driver must not leave the company before three months which is contradictory to global policy.
At the time of leaving any apps-based company a driver must take de-enlistment certificate which is also contradictory global system.
It has been said in the article 11 of 1st paragraph that the car to be used in the Ride sharing must be one year old it means that the owner will have to wait one year with new car to use the Apps. In case of motor bike, the apps user will have to wait three months.
It was mentioned in the article 9 of 4th paragraph that detailed information of the driver has only been wanted but there is nothing about the passenger.
Under these circumstances a passenger can commit crimes and will remain outside purview of law enforcers.
In Bangladesh the idea of motor bike ride share was first introduced by ‘Share a Motorbike’ (SAM).
At the moment, besides SAM, there are existences of Pathao, Amra Bike, Yes Bike, and Dhaka Moto who are now running as apps-based share riding in the capital city. The other companies of Motor Bikes except SAM aren’t collecting detailed information about the driver and passenger. Even BRTA has no contact with these Bike companies, as a result enough chances of evasion by the Ride sharing companies are looming.
Director of BRTA Sheikh Mahbub-E-Rabbani could not tell the names of the motor bike sharing ride companies operating in the city. Citing his role in the draft policy making was just as a member, he said that the draft policy has been sent to the ministry and it will be finalized after obtaining public opinions.
However, a source in the Road Transport and Bridges ministry said that the policy will be given final approval after the inter-ministerial to be held on Thursday (July 13).
source: banglanews24.com
