BRTA wants share of revenue

MOVE TO LEGALISe UBER

A Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) committee, formed to find ways to legalise the operation of app-based transportation network service Uber on Dhaka streets, is trying to find ways for the government to get a share of the revenue from the service. During a meeting of the committee yesterday, the members decided to ask the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to formulate a taxation guideline for the transport regulator so that it would be able to bring Uber under a legal framework. A member of the committee, who was present at the meeting, told The Independent that the services that Uber provides cannot be categorised with the existing acts. The member said that it didn’t fall under the category of neither taxicab services nor rental car services. As there are complexities in categorising Uber under the existing rules or regulations, the transport regulator cannot formulate a guideline for the service. For this, the committee is set to formally ask the NBR to aid them in preparing a taxation guideline, said the member. Uber, worldwide renowned online transportation network company headquartered in San Francisco, California, was officially banned in Bangladesh within days of its introduction on Dhaka streets. Despite this ban, the company continues its operations in the capital and mysteriously enough, the authorities concerned was yet to take any action against it. On top of that illegal operation in Dhaka, Uber has also increased its fare by 20-22 per cent within two months of its introduction in the country.

BRTA wants share of revenue

MOVE TO LEGALISe UBER

A Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) committee, formed to find ways to legalise the operation of app-based transportation network service Uber on Dhaka streets, is trying to find ways for the government to get a share of the revenue from the service. During a meeting of the committee yesterday, the members decided to ask the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to formulate a taxation guideline for the transport regulator so that it would be able to bring Uber under a legal framework. A member of the committee, who was present at the meeting, told The Independent that the services that Uber provides cannot be categorised with the existing acts. The member said that it didnt fall under the category of neither taxicab services nor rental car services. As there are complexities in categorising Uber under the existing rules or regulations, the transport regulator cannot formulate a guideline for the service. For this, the committee is set to formally ask the NBR to aid them in preparing a taxation guideline, said the member. Uber, worldwide renowned online transportation network company headquartered in San Francisco, California, was officially banned in Bangladesh within days of its introduction on Dhaka streets. Despite this ban, the company continues its operations in the capital and mysteriously enough, the authorities concerned was yet to take any action against it. On top of that illegal operation in Dhaka, Uber has also increased its fare by 20-22 per cent within two months of its introduction in the country.