He says the ride-sharing app must come under the legal framework
The government says it does not intend to stop taxi-hailing app Uber from operating in Bangladesh.
“We are not against Uber but it has to come under the legal framework of this country,” Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader said on Saturday.
Uber did not secure clearance for operations before its launch last week.
“We appreciate any kind of digital venture,” Quader said of Uber, a day after the transport authorities declared the service illegal.
Uber launched operations in Bangladesh on Nov 22 amid much enthusiasm.
In a media statement, Uber quoted ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak as saying that he was “very excited to have Uber in Dhaka as a part of our efforts to build smart cities”.
Amid debates on the legality of Uber’s operations continued, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority issued a public notice in newspapers warning Uber drivers and clients against using the service, citing legal issues.
BRTA Director Nurul Islam later told the Dhaka Tribune the Uber “violates” the taxicab policy. “A company needs BRTA permission for running taxi services,” he said.
Uber neither employs the drivers, nor does it own any vehicles, making it possible to charge fares that are relatively lower compared to conventional taxis.
The ride sharing app has expanded rapidly and gained popularity since its founding seven years ago.
It currently provides services in 550 cities across 74 countries, with over five million Uber trips made each day on average.
Source: Dhaka Tribune