Young entrepreneurs launch self-drive car rental service 'Udrive' in Sylhet

Highlights

• Udrive was officially launched in Sylhet city on 23 July
• Customers can rent vehicles like Mercedes, Toyota Corolla, and Allion
• A valid driving license and basic documents are needed for renting cars
• Rentals start from just Tk2,500 for 12 hours 

What began as a frustration has evolved through innovation — an idea now taking Sylhet's mobility landscape by storm.

Sylhet, known for its large expatriate community, welcomes thousands of returning migrants throughout the year. Many of them seek the freedom to drive themselves—whenever and wherever they wish. 

Yet, such a service has long been absent not only in Sylhet but across Bangladesh, where car rentals almost always come with a driver.

Take, for instance, Pinak Dey, a British-Bangladeshi expatriate visiting Sylhet for a month, found himself in a transportation dilemma shortly after landing. He rented a private car, only to be burdened by the driver's constant demands and limitations.

He could not go wherever he wanted. The driver always had something to say, and of course, "one seat in the car was always occupied by him," said Pinak.

Eventually, Pinak bought a car of his own just to avoid the hassle. "I'll sell it before leaving, but I'll likely lose about Tk3 lakh," he added with a resigned sigh.

This is a common challenge for returning expatriates and tourists in Sylhet: the inability to travel freely with the comfort and privacy they're used to.

Recognising this unmet need, four young Sylhet natives — Afzal Hossain Chowdhury, Enamul Hasan, Iftikhar Irad, and UK-based Shibbir Ahmed — decided to introduce a bold new solution: Udrive, Sylhet's first self-drive car rental service.

From Toyota to Mercedes – Udrive got it

With Udrive, customers can rent cars like Mercedes, Toyota Corolla, and Allion without a driver. After completing a straightforward registration and verification process, including a valid driving license and essential documents, users are given the keys to freedom.

The cost is modest too; a minimum of Tk2,500 for 12 hours.

Although Udrive officially launched on 23 July, it has been operating on a trial basis since January. During that time, the service has already completed more than 500 trips and attracted over 70 regular users.

"Many expatriates and tourists want to explore freely, without the added burden of a driver. Our initiative is based on that need," explained co-founder Afzal Hossain Chowdhury.

Currently, Udrive operates a fleet of 16 cars in Lala Bazar in Dakshin Surma, with plans to scale up to 100 by year-end and complete 10,000 trips.

"Expatriates can even book cars through our Facebook page before arriving," said Iftikhar Irad.

"We'll have the car ready at the airport upon their arrival," he added. 

The team also has expansion plans for Dhaka and Chattogram in the near future.

'A game changer'

One of Udrive's regular clients, Sheikh Rafi, who is the founder of a tourism agency, shared his experience, saying, "Many of our clients prefer exploring with family at their own pace. This service is a game-changer; it is something we are used to seeing abroad."

However, Rafi also suggested streamlining the verification process further, especially for short-term tourists.

Another satisfied user, Ismail Hossain, noted, "We've used services like this overseas, but Sylhet never had it – until now. My expatriate relatives are extremely happy with the convenience."