Food delivery apps are changing city life in Bangladesh by creating jobs, helping small cooks sell food, and making it easy for people to get meals from their phones. This shift is now part of daily life for many, bringing customers to small shops and new work for riders on bikes and motorbikes. One local platform has grown fast, reaching 23 cities, and typical orders cost about 480 taka, which shows many families and young people use these services. It says it has over 11,000 restaurant partners, 2,000 home chefs and 1,200 cloud kitchens, and about 1,600 of these are run by women, giving more people a chance to earn. Thousands of riders wear bright vests and carry boxes as they pick up and drop off orders, and some can earn up to 35,000 taka a month depending on hours and location. A larger rival reports more than 100,000 registered riders and says a full-time rider working eight to ten hours can earn over 20,000 taka a month. Companies are starting welfare steps like basic insurance, training and health help to support riders and make the work less risky. For small restaurants these apps can bring vital sales because they reach many more customers, but the fees and commission rates can cut into thin profits. Many businesses feel both grateful and trapped — they need the apps for orders, yet the costs make it hard to increase earnings. Customers like how quick and easy it is to order, and many now choose delivery instead of going out, making ordering in a normal choice for busy people. Payments are changing too, with about half of orders paid digitally and the rest still using cash on delivery, so the platforms are helping more people try digital payments while cash stays important. The fast growth brings new problems for cities, with more traffic, more short trips, and much extra packaging waste from boxes and single-use cutlery. To help, some companies test greener ideas like bicycle deliveries, asking customers to opt out of cutlery, using better packaging and reselling unclaimed food at a discount so it does not go to waste. These steps are small but show the industry can try to be cleaner while it grows. Overall, food apps are changing how people eat, work and trade in cities: they open new chances for cooks, riders and small shops, push digital payments, and raise hard questions about fair pay and waste. With fairer commission rules, stronger protections for riders, and better planning for waste and traffic, the apps could help build a healthier local economy that works for more people. Community talks, clear rules and small steps can make growth fairer and greener.
