E-ticketing to be introduced for bus services in Dhaka next week

Passengers on buses operating in Dhaka and its suburban routes will now have to purchase e-tickets before boarding, as the capital's long-awaited digital ticketing system is set to roll out within next week.

The move aims to bring order to a chaotic transport system, reduce traffic congestion, curb fare disputes, and improve passenger safety across city and suburban routes.

The system was officially launched at a press conference today (19 January) at a hotel in the capital.

The initiative is a joint effort involving the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association, Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, Dhaka District Road Transport Vehicle Workers Union, and several labour organisations, with Urbanmove Tech providing technical management and support.

Addressing the press conference, Additional Police Commissioner (Additional IG) Md Sarwar said that the DMP has been working relentlessly to resolve traffic congestion in the city. 

"The e-ticket system to be rolled out fully within a week will reduce traffic congestion, curb unfair competition among buses and improve passenger safety and comfort," he said.

Speaking at the programme, Saiful Alam, general secretary of the Dhaka Road Transport Owners' Association, said, "Under the new system, all buses will pick up and drop off passengers at designated stops. Passengers must obtain e-tickets via an app or device before boarding, and fares will not exceed government-approved rates (students will continue to pay half the fare."

Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Md Anisur Rahman was present as the special guest, while the general secretary of Dhaka District Road Transport Vehicle Workers Union, Md Abul Kashem, and Managing Director of Urban Move Tech Limited, Junaid Abdullah, also spoke at the event.

Police officers, leaders of the transport sector and journalists were present at the event, it said.