Women-only 'Pink Bus' services launched in Dhaka, Ctg, Bogura

The 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 them on the city streets.

Infographic: TBS

The buses are operated by female drivers and conductors.

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.

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

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.

Routes covered by Pink Bus

According to the BRTC, the service will cover 134 stops in Dhaka.

Buses travelling from Notun Bazar to Motijheel will pass through Coca-Cola, 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.

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 the BRTC and relevant officials to ensure this.

Rabiul 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.

Rabiul 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 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.

BRTC Chairman Abdul Latif Molla said the corporation was preparing drivers and conductors to operate electric 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.

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.

Service launched in Ctg with 2 buses

The BRTC has launched the 'women-only' bus service in Chattogram with two buses initially.

The service was inaugurated at the Kalurghat Betar Kendra area. The two buses began operating from Kalurghat Betar Kendra to Patenga via Kaptai Rastar Matha, several key areas of the city and Free Port.

Chattogram-8 MP Ershad Ullah attended the inauguration as the chief guest. Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Ziauddin, District Commissioner Zahidul Islam Mia, Chattogram Range DIG Abdul Quddus Chowdhury, Chattogram District Police Superintendent Masud Alam and BRTA Chattogram Divisional Director Masud Alam were also present, along with other officials.

According to the BRTC, the route is approximately 22-25km long and has 12 designated stops where women can board and get off the buses.

The route runs from Kalurghat through Kaptai Rastar Matha, Bahaddarhat, Muradpur, GEC, Tigerpass, Agrabad and Free Port to Patenga.

The service has started with two buses, but officials said the fleet could be expanded in the future depending on passenger demand and the experience gained from operating the service.

One of the two buses is being driven by Mumtaz Begum, who was inspired to take up driving by her husband, a professional bus driver.

She later received government training and acquired the skills required to operate heavy vehicles, with the support of her family. She has now taken the wheel of one of Chattogram's newly launched women-only buses.

'Pink Bus' also starts on 2 routes in Bogura

The BRTC also launched the women-only bus service on two routes in Bogura today, with the buses aimed at providing safer and more comfortable transport for working women, students and other female passengers.

Two buses will initially operate on the Sherpur-Matidali route through Bogura city and the Mokamtala-Banani route, with the latter passing through the city and ending at Satmatha.

Women in Bogura have welcomed the initiative, saying the dedicated buses would make them feel safer while travelling on public transport.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at the Bogura BRTC office, Bogura-6 lawmaker Rezaul Karim Badshah said the service would make it easier for women to travel while also creating employment opportunities for them.