BRTC to launch 14 pink buses for women today

The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is set to launch 14 buses under its "Pink Bus Service" for women in Dhaka, Bogura and Chattogram today, with both passengers and service providers being women.

BRTC officials said 10 buses will operate on nine routes in the capital, while two buses each will operate in Bogura and Chattogram.

Talking to the Daily Sun, a BRTC official, wishing anonymity for fear of departmental action, said the corporation had previously introduced a separate service for women, but it struggled to attract enough passengers.

“We are reintroducing the service in a new form. Ten buses will operate on nine routes in Dhaka, while four will operate in Bogura and Chattogram,” the official said.

He said the earlier women’s service had male drivers and female conductors, but the new service would have female drivers as well. “We have trained female drivers and conductors to operate the service,” he said.

The initiative has been taken as part of the implementation of the government’s election manifesto.

The service aims to increase women’s participation in public transport and provide female passengers with a safer and more comfortable travelling environment.

According to BRTC sources, the women’s bus service will be inaugurated at 10am at the BRTC Dhaka Truck Depot in Tejgaon.

Senior officials from relevant ministries and government departments are expected to attend the inauguration.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam will attend the event as the chief guest, while State Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Habibur Rashid and Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr Mohammed Ziaul Haque will be present as special guests. BRTC Chairman Abdul Latif Mollah will preside over the event.

BRTC sources said the separate bus service is aimed at easing the daily difficulties faced by female commuters and providing them with greater comfort and security while travelling.

The initiative is also expected to create more employment opportunities for women in the transport sector through the recruitment of female drivers and conductors.