BaRSA urges govt to allow resuming motorbike ride-sharing services

The ride-sharing companies in the country have urged the government to allow operating motorbike services despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) had imposed a ban on all the app-based services in March last on health ground, following the spread of the coronavirus in Bangladesh.
Later, the BRTA allowed resuming the ride-sharing services, excepting the motorbike services, in June subject to maintaining the health guideline properly.
Terming the ban on motorbikes as a serious negative move towards the country's ride-sharing services sector, the companies have urged the government to immediately withdraw the restriction on the motorbike-based services too.
Bangladesh Ride Sharing Association (BaRSA) in a statement on Tuesday demanded of the authorities concerned to consider the motorbike operation, arguing that the things are slowly emerging as the "new normal" and schools, universities, offices, and courts are reopening at a newer and slower pace.
"In light of the COVID crisis, there has been no official ban of any sort on the motorcycles which are moving through the capital, but there is a written prohibition from BRTA which restricts the use of motorcycles as a public transport enlisted under the various ride-sharing apps in the city," it reads.
Referring to the current circumstances, the statement said, "It seems highly unreasonable to keep restricting the use of motorcycles enlisted under the ride-sharing apps."
They also mentioned that the companies have also taken a number of health safety initiatives to ensure health safety in the services, including for the motorbikes.
Several independents on the motorcycles are already on the streets and the number of offline trips is gradually increasing day by day, it said, adding: "This trend is hazardous because the riders of these offline trips do not follow any hygiene code and issues relating to security also arise."
The cars enlisted under the ride-sharing apps are given the freedom to run smoothly while maintaining the said health protocols and "we urge the withdrawal of the ban on motorcycles".
"We hope that the ride-sharing services shall be renewed once again. It is not only the companies we care about but also the various riders who are seemingly unemployed and crushing under financial strains due to this ban," the statement added.
It also demanded a six-month time for the ride-sharing companies to avail their vehicles to be enlisted with BRTA.

nsrafsanju@gmail.com