57% of Women Say "Public Transport Is Most Dangerous"... The Country Introducing 'Pink Buses' Without Men

Fourteen Pink Buses Launched in Dhaka and Two Other Cities
All Drivers and Conductors Are Women
Plan to Deploy 100 Electric Buses Within Six Months

A "Pink Bus," driven by female drivers and exclusively for women, has launched in Bangladesh.

A Bangladeshi woman operating the 'PinkBus'. According to local media The Daily Star.

According to Bangladeshi media such as 'Dhaka Tribune' on August 19 (local time), the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has begun regular operation of 14 women-only buses in the capital Dhaka, the southeastern port city of Chittagong, and the northern city of Bogura. The buses are painted pink and feature all-female staff, from drivers to conductors. The buses are distributed with 10 serving Dhaka and its surrounding areas, 2 in Chittagong, and 2 in Bogura, operating across 13 routes in total in these three cities. The fare is set at 2.23 taka per kilometer (approximately 25 KRW), the same rate as regular buses. The buses operate daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Women Suffered from Unwanted Contact on Public Transport... A Step toward Expanding Job Opportunities

This service was introduced out of concern for the safety of Bangladeshi women, who have suffered from unwanted physical contact and verbal abuse on crowded buses and at bus stops. All 14 buses are equipped with tracking devices, and some are fitted with CCTV and Wi-Fi. Tickets can be purchased online in advance. Abdul Latif Mollah, Chairman of the BRTC, stated, "We are launching this initiative for women," and explained that the project is designed to empower women. Another goal is to increase employment opportunities for women in the male-dominated transportation sector.

However, the initial response was underwhelming, with the buses running far below capacity on the first day. Mostakim Bhuiyan, BRTC Public Relations Officer, told local media TOB that both drivers and staff need time to become familiar with the new routes and schedules, as do passengers, who require time to learn where and when the buses operate. He added that only after a certain period of operation will it be possible to properly evaluate the frequency, ridership, and any issues with the service.

Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has started regular operation of 14 women-only buses in the capital Dhaka, the southeastern port city of Chittagong, and the northern city of Bogura. Official website

This is not the first time a women-only bus service has been introduced. The BRTC first launched this service in 1998 and expanded it to the Dhaka area in 2001, but it was discontinued shortly afterward. The service was revived in 2009, but encountered further difficulties and eventually ceased completely in 2015. In 2018, a separate service was introduced in cooperation with private companies.

The government plans to significantly scale up this initiative. Sheikh Rabiul Alam, Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, announced at the launch event a plan to introduce 100 electric buses for women. Fifty of these will be deployed within three months, and the rest will be rolled out in phases within six months. The government also expects this to reduce reliance on petroleum and help modernize public transportation.

"One Out of Five Perpetrators of Sexual Harassment on Public Transport Is a Transport Worker"

Statistics reveal the extent of the harm experienced by Bangladeshi women on public transport. According to a 2022 survey conducted by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Bangladesh office and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) involving 5,187 women in 24 provinces, 87% of respondents reported having experienced some form of harassment at least once in their lives. Thirty-six percent said they were routinely sexually harassed on buses, trains, ships, and at terminals, and 57% identified public transport as the most dangerous environment they encountered, including streets, shopping malls, and online spaces.

A significant number of offenders were transport industry workers. A separate 2022 survey by a local women's organization of 805 women aged 13 to 35 in Dhaka found that, among those who had experienced harassment on public transport, 20.4% identified bus drivers, conductors, or other transport workers as the perpetrators, while 75% pointed to fellow passengers.

This project was launched as part of the government's efforts to fulfill its general election pledges. A government official stressed, "It is not enough to ensure safety only inside the bus," and emphasized the need to address safety during the boarding and alighting process, as well as the time women spend waiting at bus stops.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.