‘Ganging up’ for safer commutes

In recent months, fear has gripped people across Bangladesh as stories of violence, harassment and mugging have become alarmingly common, leaving many on edge. 

And for students, the fear has grown so intense that many have even proposed a return to online classes in various university groups on social media because getting to and from university has begun to feel increasingly unsafe.

Take Ayesha, for instance, a student of North South University. Her fear became real one evening after class. She had just stepped off the bus when two men on a motorcycle cornered her. In mere seconds, they snatched her bag and phone, leaving her frozen in shock and trembling on the dimly lit street. Since that night, public transport no longer feels like an option. The fear of it happening again keeps her from taking that route.

Rafi Ahsan's experience was no less terrifying. It was broad daylight, around 10am, when he stood outside his home and waited for a rickshaw to take him to East West University. Suddenly, some people held a knife to him in front of Mouchak market. The muggers took everything he had. Although the belongings could be replaced, the fear they left behind still lingers.

Stories like these have become all too common. Public transport, especially after evening classes or club activities, feels more dangerous than convenient. Female students, in particular, take extra precautions: gripping their bags tightly, holding onto pepper spray, or calling loved ones the moment they step outside. 

Enter GangUp, a web-based platform designed to help private university students commute safely by forming groups with fellow students heading in the same direction.

"The idea came to life after hearing about incidents of daytime shootings and muggings," recalled Mahir Abdullah, one of the co-founders and an eighth-semester student at BRAC University.

"We noticed that students were already used to posting in university groups to find travel companions, but it was all manual. That's when it struck me, why not automate it? If we could connect students efficiently, they could reach home more safely," said Mahir.

Mahir shared the idea with his friend and fellow BRAC University student Fahim Ahmed. The two immediately began working on a platform from 23 February this year to offer students a safer, more organised way to travel in groups.

Soon after, two more friends, Monish Chanda Rudra, also an 8th-semester CSE student at BRAC University, and Shahriar Ahmed Shovon, a 5th-semester CSE student from Daffodil International University, joined the team. 

The ultimate goal was to create a space where students found a sense of safety in their daily commute.

There was no official launch or marketing campaign. Instead, they quietly posted about GangUp in a BRAC University Facebook group on 1 March at 12:30am. What followed was beyond their expectations.

In a little over just a week (200 hours), GangUp saw a massive response; 4,000 verified users signed up, forming over 500 gangs. The platform attracted 60,000 visitors, and students from 10 private universities joined, which later went up to 25.

How GangUp works

The platform allows students to register using their official university email ID, ensuring that only verified private university students can join. Once registered, students can either create their own "gangs" or join existing ones based on their route and preferred mode of transport — whether it be a car, autorickshaw, motorcycle, or a ride-sharing service.

GangUp has a unique option that allows its users to customise each gang. The creator of a gang has the power to set preferences for the group, such as limiting which university students can join, selecting only certain genders, or specifying the vehicle type. This means students can form groups that best suit their comfort level, creating a sense of safety and trust within the gang.

To make commuting easier and more coordinated, they introduced an in-app chat feature that allows gang members to communicate directly. These chats are encrypted to protect users' privacy, ensuring that sensitive information remains secure.

We noticed that students were already used to posting in university groups to find travel companions, but it was all manual. That's when it struck me, why not automate it? If we could connect students efficiently, they could reach home more safely.

Mahir Abdullah, co-founder, GangUp and student, BRAC University

But building a platform like GangUp came with its fair share of challenges. 

The biggest hurdle was ensuring the verification. To ensure that it is exclusive only to students, they had to find a way to authenticate verification. Hence, they opted for students' university-assigned email addresses.

One of the key aspects they focused on was the ability to report any issues within the gangs. A complaint system was introduced, allowing students to report suspicious behaviour or misconduct by any gang member. Once a complaint is submitted, the GangUp team carefully verifies the report and takes action accordingly. This feature ensures that accountability is built into the system, helping students feel even safer.

Prioritising safety over profit

For now, GangUp operates as a web-based platform, but the team has bigger dreams. If the support continues, they plan to launch a dedicated mobile app, making the platform even more accessible for students.

What's remarkable is that the entire project has been self-funded by the four founders. They covered the costs out of their own pockets, driven purely by the desire to create a safer environment for their peers.

When asked about monetisation, they were clear. "We haven't really thought about making money," Mahir said. "Our focus was on providing a safe and affordable option for students. Whatever happens, we will never charge students."

They are considering partnerships with ride-sharing companies to offer discounted services for students, ensuring that safety does not come at a high price. For now, the focus is entirely on making the platform as effective and reliable as possible.