Training held for bus drivers, helpers to prevent sexual harassment in public transport

To prevent sexual harassment of women in public transport, training sessions were conducted for bus drivers and helpers. 

On Sunday (16 March), the workshop was inaugurated by Nilima Akhter, Executive Director of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), said a press release.

This five-day training workshop has been organised jointly by DTCA and Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), with support from the Embassy of Sweden.

In her inaugural speech, DTCA's Chief Executive Nilima Akhter referred to a research report by BRAC titled Safe Roads for Women: Free from Harassment and Accidents, which states that 94% of women in Bangladesh face verbal, physical, or other forms of sexual harassment while commuting in public transport. 

Among them, 66% experience harassment from men aged 41-60. The absence of proper legal enforcement, overcrowding in buses, inadequate lighting in vehicles, and lack of monitoring (such as CCTV cameras) contribute to this issue.

She emphasised that DTCA has taken up this initiative as part of the government's commitment to ensuring women-friendly public transport. She further stated that the overall development of the country is not possible without the proper advancement of women, and behavioral change among public transport users is crucial.

Nilima Akhter added that the DTCA is actively working to ensure inclusive public transport. Previously, workshops were held to introduce disability-friendly public transport, and DTCA regularly observes 'World Car-Free Day' to promote pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly cities. She expressed optimism that a safe and passenger-friendly public transport system can be achieved through collective efforts.

At the beginning of the event, Banashree Mitra Niyogi, Director of MJF, stated that sexual harassment has become a social epidemic, making society unsafe and unstable. She stressed that ensuring the dignity of women is essential for a peaceful society.

Soma Dutta, programme manager at MJF, mentioned that apart from 999, individuals can also seek assistance against sexual harassment in public transport by calling 1098 and 109. She pointed out that many people are unaware of these helplines and called for increased public awareness. She also urged bus drivers to call these numbers if they cannot control any harassment situation on their buses.

Dhrubo Alam, director of DTCA's Bus Route Rationalization Project, said, "Ensuring the safety of women in public transport is essential. That is why we are starting this training workshop today. The training for bus drivers and helpers marks the beginning of an awareness campaign. Those who receive this training must share their knowledge with others, leading to a significant change in the transport sector and society." He also mentioned that drivers and helpers would be awarded certificates upon completion of the training.

The event featured speeches from DTCA's Training Adviser Mohammad Hamid Mia. The training was conducted by Subhasish Chandra Mohanto and DTCA's Traffic Enforcement Officer Md Selim Khan.

The MJF has launched a campaign titled "Safe Commutes, Respectful Cities", aimed at ensuring the safety and dignity of women in public transport. 

This campaign seeks to address harassment issues in Dhaka's public transport system and create an inclusive and respectful environment for all passengers. 

The initiative is being implemented under the Community-based Resilience and Women's Empowerment and Action (CREA) project, funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh and executed in collaboration with the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA).