For many women in Dhaka, travelling around the city can be stressful, especially when using crowded public transport or riding on motorcycles with male drivers.
A new transport platform, Maya Ride, is trying to offer an alternative by connecting female passengers with verified female riders.
Launched in mid-April 2026 by Fahad Chowdhury and Jannatul Ferdous, Maya Ride provides women-only bike and scooter rides, car services and pre-booked transportation for school-going children.
Within its first four months, around 70 female motorcycle riders joined the platform, with about 30 active riders. Around 25 female car drivers also joined, while four to five were regularly providing rides. More than 300 motorcycle rides were completed during the period, according to the founders.
The idea came from Jannatul's own experience and observations of women's daily travel in Dhaka.
“I used to think that I probably wouldn't feel comfortable either if I were in that situation. That thought really stayed with me,” Jannatul said, referring to women travelling on motorcycles with male riders.
Fahad said the initiative initially started as an experiment.
“Since I have been working in data marketing for eight years, I thought I would run an experiment,” he said.
The platform mainly works through pre-booked rides. Passengers provide their pickup and destination details, and Maya Ride matches them with an available female rider. The company says riders and companions go through identity and background verification before being assigned to bookings.
One regular passenger is Nuzhat Tabassum, a resident of Shyamoli who travels to her office in Gulshan-1. She has used Maya Ride more than 30 times.
“It is true that the cost is somewhat higher than Pathao or Uber. But considering how safe I feel here and how I can travel without worrying, I would say the extra cost is worth it,” she said.
Safety and comfort are also highlighted in customer reviews published on Maya Ride's website.
Sadia Toha wrote that she felt safe and secure during her ride and appreciated the initiative.
Another customer, Mehrin Akter, described her experience as “pretty good and comfortable” and gave the service a 10/10 recommendation.
Ifrita Hossain Muntaha said it was her first bike ride and that having a female rider made the experience more comfortable.
Minhaz Fahim, another customer whose review is published on the website, described the experience as comfortable and recommended the service, while also expressing hope that it would improve further as more people use it.
These reviews are published by Maya Ride as Facebook recommendations from customers, rather than independently conducted interviews.
Maya Ride has also expanded its services beyond individual bike rides.
Its car-sharing service offers women-only shared commutes on selected routes across Dhaka. Passengers can choose pickup-point or door-to-door options, with weekly and monthly packages available on current routes. The platform says drivers are verified and the service is designed for regular office commutes.
Another service, Maya Kids, provides pre-booked transport for school-going children with a verified female companion. The service is aimed at parents who need a more organised option for their children's daily school commute.
The platform is also intended to create income opportunities for women who own motorcycles or cars and want to work as professional drivers.
Fahad said some women are joining the platform not only for income but also because they want to help other women.
“Women are working with the intention of helping other women. Isn't that a beautiful thing?” he said.
However, the platform still faces challenges.
The number of active female riders remains relatively small compared with the demand for rides. This can make it difficult to match passengers with drivers, particularly for certain locations and times. A limited driver network can also increase the cost of rides.
The founders hope that bringing more women into the network will make the service more widely available and help reduce costs over time.
Maya Ride currently operates through its website and booking channels. Its website says customers can request rides for immediate service, subject to rider and vehicle availability, or book for a selected date and time. The company also provides customer support during its operating hours.
For women navigating Dhaka every day, Maya Ride is offering a simple alternative: a journey where the passenger can choose a female rider.
At the same time, the platform is trying to turn women's mobility needs into an opportunity for other women to earn through driving.