Staff Reporter :
Drivers of ridesharing Uber in Dhaka had 24-hour work abstention from Sunday midnight to press home their eight-point demand.
Dhaka Ridesharing Drivers Union and Bangladesh Ridesharing Drivers Association called the strike to protest “different irregularities”.
The demands are fixing fare per kilometre and minute from start to end of every trip. Reducing Uber’s commission to 12 percent from 25 percent. Raising fare due to a hike in gas prices. Arranging trips near destinations under the ‘Destination’ option in the app. Ensuring security of the drivers. Arranging compensation if passengers cause damage to vehicles. Taking no action against the drivers without investigating passenger complaints.
Making it compulsory for passengers to provide own image in their Uber accounts.
Arranging initial training for passengers on location. Putting a ceiling of two kilometres on maximum distance between the drivers and passengers.
The Union’s General Secretary Belal Ahmed said they had discussed the issues several times, but there has been no solutions forthcoming.
They went to Uber’s office in Dhaka’s Uttara twice and staged human-chain programme outside the office and the Jatiya Press Club, he said. “The officials there said they have nothing to do as all of their decisions come from India,” Belal said.
Uber Bangladesh’s public relations agency Benchmark PR Director ASM Asaduzzaman said they have informed Uber after many sought their comments on the issue.
“We will let you know when we get the comments,” he added.
Launched in 2016, Uber gained popularity fast in Dhaka, the city of traffic congestions and transport chaos.
Pathao, OBHAI, Pickme, SAM, Shohoz and some other ridesharing firms are also operating in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Uber’s Dhaka office issued a statement regretting the inconvenience following the strike of its driver partners.
“We regret the disruption caused to the riders and driver-partner community, due to a small group of individuals. We remain committed to serving the city and ensuring that our driver partners continue to access a stable income, while giving riders a convenient, reliable option to get around Dhaka,” it said.
“We’ve processes in place for our driver-partners to address concerns and issues through our Partner Sheba Kendras and in-App feedback,” The statement added.
An Uber spokesperson, wishing anonymity, said most drivers did not respond to the call for the strike as most of the driver-partners have continued proving service to the commuters.
Drivers of ridesharing Uber in Dhaka had 24-hour work abstention from Sunday midnight to press home their eight-point demand.
Dhaka Ridesharing Drivers Union and Bangladesh Ridesharing Drivers Association called the strike to protest “different irregularities”.
The demands are fixing fare per kilometre and minute from start to end of every trip. Reducing Uber’s commission to 12 percent from 25 percent. Raising fare due to a hike in gas prices. Arranging trips near destinations under the ‘Destination’ option in the app. Ensuring security of the drivers. Arranging compensation if passengers cause damage to vehicles. Taking no action against the drivers without investigating passenger complaints.
Making it compulsory for passengers to provide own image in their Uber accounts.
Arranging initial training for passengers on location. Putting a ceiling of two kilometres on maximum distance between the drivers and passengers.
The Union’s General Secretary Belal Ahmed said they had discussed the issues several times, but there has been no solutions forthcoming.
They went to Uber’s office in Dhaka’s Uttara twice and staged human-chain programme outside the office and the Jatiya Press Club, he said. “The officials there said they have nothing to do as all of their decisions come from India,” Belal said.
Uber Bangladesh’s public relations agency Benchmark PR Director ASM Asaduzzaman said they have informed Uber after many sought their comments on the issue.
“We will let you know when we get the comments,” he added.
Launched in 2016, Uber gained popularity fast in Dhaka, the city of traffic congestions and transport chaos.
Pathao, OBHAI, Pickme, SAM, Shohoz and some other ridesharing firms are also operating in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Uber’s Dhaka office issued a statement regretting the inconvenience following the strike of its driver partners.
“We regret the disruption caused to the riders and driver-partner community, due to a small group of individuals. We remain committed to serving the city and ensuring that our driver partners continue to access a stable income, while giving riders a convenient, reliable option to get around Dhaka,” it said.
“We’ve processes in place for our driver-partners to address concerns and issues through our Partner Sheba Kendras and in-App feedback,” The statement added.
An Uber spokesperson, wishing anonymity, said most drivers did not respond to the call for the strike as most of the driver-partners have continued proving service to the commuters.
