Women-only buses for safe, comfortable and hassle-free travel

The government has launched a pink-coloured women-only bus service to ensure safe, comfortable and hassle-free travel for women. The service, operated by female drivers and conductors, was formally inaugurated yesterday at the BRTC Dhaka Truck Depot in Tejgaon.

Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam MP said women need a safe and passenger-friendly environment not only on buses but also while waiting for and getting off them. He said the government is also working to modernise and make the transport sector environmentally friendly. “We will reduce dependence on fossil fuels and increase the use of electric vehicle (EV) buses,” he said, adding that EV buses would play an important role in establishing a multimodal transport system in Dhaka.

The government has taken an initiative to purchase 100 pink-coloured electric buses for women. It aims to introduce 50 within three months and 100 in phases. As part of its 180-day action plan, BRTC initially launched the service with 14 buses on 13 routes in Dhaka, Chattogram and Bogura. Of these, 10 buses will operate in Dhaka, two in Chattogram and two in Bogura. The service will cover 134 stops—106 in Dhaka, 12 in Chattogram and 16 in Bogura.

BUET Civil Engineering Professor Dr Hadiuzzaman said a few buses would not be enough to meet demand in Dhaka. He urged BRTC to increase the number of buses and suggested involving private operators if necessary. He also recommended reducing the interval between buses from 30 minutes to 10 minutes to prevent working women from having to wait in long queues. State Minister for Railways and Road Transport and Highways Division Habibur Rashid MP said the special service would carry only female passengers and would have female drivers and conductors. The buses have e-ticketing, CCTV cameras and vehicle tracking systems.

Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr Mohammad Ziaul Haque said the government aims to add 50 EV buses for women within three months and 100 within six months.

BRTC Chairman Abdul Latif Molla said initiatives had been taken to transform BRTC into a modern, passenger-friendly and service-oriented organisation. Funding and loan assistance are also being arranged to introduce electric buses in city services. The service will operate on several routes, including New Bazar-Motijheel, Taltala-Motijheel, Demra Staff Quarter-GPO, Mirpur-10-Motijheel, Mirpur-12-Motijheel, Narayanganj-Dhaka, Mohammadpur-Motijheel, Abdullahpur-Motijheel and Gazipur-Airport.

Pink bus service launched in Bogura

BRTC also launched two women-only buses in Bogura yesterday, marking the first dedicated women’s bus service in the district. MP Rezaul Karim Badsha inaugurated the service. The buses will operate on the Sherpur-Matidali and Mokamtola-Banani routes from morning to evening. Their drivers, conductors and assistants are all women.

Mr Rezaul Karim Badsha said the service would gradually be expanded across Bangladesh, describing it as part of the government’s commitment to women’s safe transportation and employment. BRTC Bogura Depot Manager Shahinul Islam said more routes would be added if the ministry provides additional buses according to demand.

BRTC female trainer Subarna Khatun said skilled female drivers had been trained through the BRSP project after selection from around 500 applicants. She said enough trained women were ready to operate additional buses.The non-AC buses in Bogura will charge Tk 2.23 per kilometre. Female driver Khadijatul Kobra said the service would help protect women from harassment commonly faced on regular buses. “Here, with female drivers and staff, female passengers will face no difficulties while travelling,” she said.