The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is launching a dedicated women-only bus service today, with women drivers and conductors operating the buses.
For many women in Bangladesh, using public transport means navigating overcrowded buses, unwanted physical contact, harassment and the persistent anxiety of reaching their destination safely.
The service will initially involve 14 buses across three routes. Ten buses will operate within Dhaka, while two will run on the Dhaka-Bogra route and another two on the Dhaka-Chittagong route, BRTC Chairman Abdul Latif Molla told Dhaka Tribune.
The initiative is aimed at providing women with a safer public transport option while also expanding women’s participation in a sector traditionally dominated by men.
For BRTC driver Mst Rabeya Khatun, 38, the importance of the initiative is deeply personal.
“I myself travel by public transport. When men and women travel together, we often become victims of harassment,” she said.
Recalling a recent incident, Rabeya said a bus helper touched her from behind while she was boarding.
“A few days ago, when I was getting onto a bus, a helper touched me from behind and said, ‘Apa, get on.’ I turned around and told him, ‘Brother, there is no reason to touch my body.’ Seriously, this is something I find extremely disturbing,” she said.
For Rabeya, the new service could address one of the most basic concerns of female passengers — personal safety.
“I think the biggest security women will get from this service is that men will have no opportunity to touch them. Everyone here will be women. For women, safety comes first,” she said.
Her experience reflects a broader challenge in Bangladesh’s public transport system, where overcrowding and inappropriate behavior can make routine journeys stressful and, at times, intimidating for women.
Rabeya said the initiative is significant because it combines safer mobility with greater participation by women in the transport workforce.
“This is the first time such a large-scale women’s service is being launched in Bangladesh. There may have been smaller initiatives before, but women in Bangladesh have progressed significantly,” she said.
The buses have been given a distinctive pink color, while women drivers will also wear pink uniforms, according to Rabeya.
“There will be women drivers, women conductors and women passengers. The entire service will be operated by women. I think this is a very positive initiative,” she said.
“If a woman can travel on this bus and reach her destination safely, that is the first and most important thing.”
Rabeya said around 16 women underwent training for the program.
Two supervisors are planned for each vehicle, although staffing arrangements may change, she said.
BRTC Chairman Abdul Latif Molla said the initiative was designed with women’s empowerment as a central objective.
“We are launching this bus service for women,” he said, adding that the service would be operated by women as part of efforts to promote women’s empowerment.
Molla confirmed that 14 buses would be deployed initially, including 10 in Dhaka, two on the Dhaka-Bogra route and two on the Dhaka-Chittagong route.
The inclusion of intercity routes extends the initiative beyond the capital and could provide BRTC with an opportunity to assess demand for women-focused transport services elsewhere.
For now, the success of the service will depend on whether the buses are punctual, accessible and reliable, as well as whether BRTC expands the initiative in response to passenger demand.
A women-only service can offer an additional safe option for female passengers, but wider measures will still be needed to address harassment across the public transport system.
For today’s passengers, however, success may be measured in simpler terms: a journey without unwanted hands, fear or humiliation.