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The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) launched a women-only “Pink Bus” service on Tuesday, with 14 buses staffed by female drivers and conductors running on 13 routes in Dhaka, Chittagong and Bogra.
The scheme is intended to give women safer, more comfortable and harassment-free public transport. The government also plans to expand it in phases, adding up to 100 pink electric buses.
Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam inaugurated the service at the BRTC Dhaka Truck Depot in Tejgaon.
Speaking at the event, he said ensuring women’s safety on public transport was the responsibility of the state.
“Safety must be ensured not only after women board a bus, but also while they are waiting for it and when they get off,” he said.
“If women face harassment, discomfort, or unsafe situations while boarding or alighting, they may lose interest in using public transport. Ensuring safe mobility for women is therefore the responsibility of the state,” he added.
A central feature of the service is that both drivers and conductors are women. Railways and Road Transport and Highways Division State Minister Habibur Rashid said: “The special feature of this service is that not only the passengers, but also the drivers and conductors, are women.”
The scheme is also expected to open up employment for women in a transport sector dominated by men. The government says the dedicated service is intended to address these concerns and encourage more women to use public transport.
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