Summary:
- Bangladeshi students launch GangUP, a safety-focused web app enabling verified university peers to form commute groups with gender preferences and route matching amid rising urban crime rates
- Platform features include real-time group coordination, cost-sharing through ride services, and upcoming in-app reviews/chat systems, currently available at 8 major universities including BRACU and NSU
- Developed by a student team across multiple universities, the initiative reports 40-60% transport cost reduction and 4,300 users in 48 hours, with plans to expand to 15 institutions by October 2025
- Universities note 22% drop in safety complaints during beta testing while cybersecurity experts caution against location-sharing risks
A team of Bangladeshi university students has launched GangUP, a web application enabling students to form verified travel groups for safer and more affordable commutes amid rising security concerns. The platform—developed by BRAC University students Fahim Ahmed, Mahir Abdullah, and Monish Chanda Rudra, with technical contributions from DIU’s Shahriar Ahmed Shovon—debuted this week at eight universities following six months of beta testing.
The app responds to a 37% year-over-year increase in street crimes targeting students commuting after 3:30 PM classes, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police data. By allowing users to create or join “gangs” matching their departure times, routes, and gender preferences, GangUP aims to reduce solo travel risks while enabling ride-cost splitting through services like Uber or CNG.
GangUP’s university-specific verification system restricts access to enrolled students using institutional email addresses, with current availability at BRAC University (BRACU), Independent University Bangladesh (IUB), East West University (EWU), University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Daffodil International University (DIU), North South University (NSU), United International University (UIU), and Southeast University (SEU).
Users create groups by specifying departure points within 2 km of campus gates, destinations, maximum group sizes (4-6 people), and departure windows. A gender-filtering option lets female students form all-female groups, addressing security concerns raised in 84% of pre-launch student surveys.
The platform’s algorithm matches users traveling along similar routes within 15-minute intervals, prioritizing groups needing to fill seats before departure. Early adopters report 40-60% reductions in transportation costs through shared rides—a critical benefit given Bangladesh’s 12.3% year-over-year inflation rate for fuel and transport services.
Real-time group coordination occurs via SMS notifications until the scheduled in-app chat launches in Q2 2025. Post-commute review systems (planned for Q3) will let users rate travel companions on punctuality and safety—metrics visible in future group searches.
The developer team credits their firsthand experience with post-class security scares as the project catalyst. “We’ve all had close calls with muggings near campus gates after evening exams,” said lead developer Fahim Ahmed. “This isn’t just an app—it’s a survival tool.”
Shahriar Ahmed Shovon’s backend architecture enables the platform to handle 12,000 concurrent users across eight universities, with scalability testing underway for October’s planned expansion to 15 institutions. Future updates will integrate with academic calendars to auto-suggest departure times based on class schedules.
University authorities have cautiously endorsed the initiative, with BRACU’s transportation office noting a 22% decline in student safety complaints during the beta phase. However, cybersecurity experts advise ongoing vigilance, recommending students avoid sharing precise pickup locations publicly.
As urban safety concerns reshape student mobility patterns across South Asia, GangUP’s model offers a template for peer-driven security solutions—one already attracting interest from university networks in India and Pakistan. With 4,300 registered users in its first 48 hours, the platform exemplifies how localized tech innovation can address systemic safety challenges.
