BRTC launches 'Pink Bus' service for women

Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has launched "Pink Bus Service", a special facility designated for women, aiming to ensure safe, comfortable and smooth travel for women on the city streets.

The pink buses will be operated by female drivers and conductors.

Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam inaugurated the service at an event held at the BRTC Dhaka Truck Depot in Tejgaon today (18 August).

According to BRTC, the service will cover 134 stops.

E-ticketing through POS machines has been introduced, while one bus has been equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi on a trial basis and three buses have been fitted with CCTV cameras.

Similar facilities will gradually be added to other buses.

Initially, 10 buses have been deployed on major routes in the capital, while four more will operate outside Dhaka- two in Bogura and two in Chattogram.

The pink buses will be operated by female drivers and conductors. Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS

Routes covered by Pink Bus Service

Buses travelling from Notun Bazar (Coca-Cola) to Motijheel will pass through Coca-Cola, Notun Bazar, Badda, Rampura, Malibagh, Kakrail, Paltan and Gulistan before reaching Motijheel.

The buses operating from Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Demra and Abdullahpur will connect several key areas of the capital.

Outside Dhaka, two buses will operate on the Sherpur-Matidali route in Bogura and two on the Kalurghat-Patenga route in Chattogram.

In Chattogram, the buses will run through Kalurghat, Kaptai Road Head, Bahaddarhat, Muradpur, Gate No. 2, GEC Intersection and Lalkhan Bazar.

Speaking at the inauguration, Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam said the Pink Bus Service would be expanded based on passenger demand, with more buses and routes added gradually.

He stressed that increasing buses alone would not be enough and called for a safe, comfortable and passenger-friendly environment for women.

"The quality of the service we are providing today must be improved further within two months," he said, instructing BRTC and relevant officials to ensure this.

Rabiul Alam said Dhaka's public transport routes needed to be reorganised, with route permits rationalised based on passenger demand and necessity.

He also said the government planned to directly purchase 200 electric buses, some of which would be allocated for women.

The move would reduce fossil fuel dependence and support an environmentally friendly, multimodal transport system in Dhaka.

Rabiul Alam said the Pink Bus Service would not be allowed to meet the fate of initiatives that were discontinued shortly after launch.

"The government and the ministry have taken up the challenge of making this service sustainable, gradually improving it and expanding its reach," he said.

State Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Railways Habibur Rashid MP said ensuring the safety of female drivers and conductors was as important as ensuring safe and comfortable travel for women passengers.

He said the initiative would contribute to women's employment and economic empowerment.

"The process of purchasing 100 electric vehicles (EVs) for BRTC's Pink Bus Service has already begun," he said, adding that the Finance Ministry was providing nearly Tk800 crore in loan assistance to add new buses to the BRTC fleet.

He stressed the need for proper training, safety measures and a good working environment for female drivers and conductors, hoping the Pink Bus Service would become a symbol of safe mobility for women.

BRTC Chairman Abdul Latif Molla said more buses would be added for women as new buses are incorporated into the corporation's fleet.

He said BRTC was preparing drivers and conductors to operate EV buses, with plans to train 30% of drivers under an ongoing World Bank project.

The female drivers of the Pink Bus Service previously drove light vehicles and underwent two months of residential training in Gazipur to develop the skills needed to operate buses.

"This initiative has helped overcome many of the fears and psychological barriers women faced regarding driving heavy buses," Molla said.

Female driver Khadija Akter said she was happy to have the opportunity to work as a driver in the road transport sector.

"I completed one month and 14 days of training at BRTC's Gazipur training centre and successfully qualified for this responsibility," she said.

Female passenger Fatematuzzohra Rupa said the Pink Bus Service would ensure safer and more comfortable travel for women.

"As the drivers, conductors and assistants are all women, the risk of harassment will be lower," she said, adding that the service would encourage women's participation in public transport.

Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) Executive Director (Secretary) Mohammad Mashiur Rahman described the Pink Bus Service as a landmark initiative for women's empowerment that would boost their confidence and create new opportunities for women to establish themselves at every level of society.