Uber launches operations in Dhaka

In a media statement on Tuesday, Uber India and South Asia President Amit Jain said the company's goal was to use technology to “make our cities more accessible” while “reducing congestion and pollution”. “In line with the government’s vision of Digital Bangladesh, we are thrilled to be in Dhaka to harness technology for the benefit of riders, drivers and the city,” he added. Since its founding just seven years ago, San Francisco-based Uber's popularity has expanded rapidly, partly due to its low fares compared to traditional taxis. It currently provides services in 550 cities across 74 countries, with over five million Uber trips made each day on average. Users will have to download the free app from Apple Store or Google Play and sign up using a mobile phone number and e-mail. They can then tap the screen to hail a cab and a driver will use GPS to find their location in minutes. Uber takes a cut of each fare and costs are kept low as the company does not directly employ drivers or own the vehicles. The company has teamed up with Grameenphone in its Bangladesh venture. GP Chief Marketing Officer Yasir Azman said the partnership would enable GP customers to use the Uber service in a “very convenient way”. State Minister for ICT, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, said he was “very excited” to have Uber in Dhaka as part of “our efforts to build smart cities”. “It [Uber] will also give our community the ease of having rides at the push of a button. Uber has the potential to bring untapped economic opportunity to Bangladesh,” the minster said in the statement. Uber's stated goal is to “seamlessly connect riders to drivers” but despite its growing popularity, the company has faced protests and controversies in countries like Canada, France, Hong Kong, India, South Africa, the US and UK. Authorities in the Indian capital, New Delhi, even moved to ban the service in December 2014 after a driver allegedly raped a female passenger. The ban was lifted the following month after Uber undertook to carry out background checks on its drivers.