Changing colours, changing nothing

A bus is not better because it's pink. Photo: Jannatul Naym Pieal

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders—at least in theory. It can make an old car look new and a worn-out house look liveable. In Dhaka, it seems like it can make a reckless bus look responsible.

The Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association (DRTOA) recently launched ticket-based pink buses to ease public transport woes in the city. It is an interesting attempt to streamline public transport, reduce traffic congestion and enhance passenger safety. But is a new paint job enough to fix the deep-rooted chaos of Dhaka's roads?  

The other day, one of these freshly pinked-up buses nearly ran me over while aggressively side-lining onto the street. Another one puffed out thick black smoke like an overworked chimney, proving that the insides remain just as rotten as ever while the outside may be new. 

These 'new' pink buses are old ones repainted. No surprise there. The problem isn't the colour of the bus—it's what's behind the wheel.

The real issue isn't whether the bus is pink, blue or camouflage green. It is whether the drivers are trained, traffic rules are enforced and passengers feel safe in public transport. Without addressing these core problems, a pink bus is just an illusion of progress—a placebo for a system in dire need of actual reform.  

We've seen this approach before. Remember when different law enforcement agencies changed the colour of their uniforms—like the police's uniform changes in 2004 and 2009? The idea was to establish a friendlier, more disciplined force. But did it change public perception? Did it reduce fear? Or did it just add a new shade to the old problems?  

Once again, we are talking about changing the uniforms of our law enforcement agencies because the previous ones did not bring the desired outcome. 

This is not the first time we've tried to solve problems with cosmetic changes.  
New traffic laws were introduced with much fanfare, yet traffic police still wave through VIP vehicles while the rest of us rot in traffic jams. 

Footbridges were built to encourage safe pedestrian crossings, but many remain empty while jaywalkers risk their lives on busy streets. 

Ride-sharing apps flourished, promising discipline and convenience, yet we now have unregulated vehicles stopping in the middle of the road, blocking traffic, and overcharging riders.

Each time, we change the appearance of the problem while leaving its root causes untouched.

If we genuinely want to fix Dhaka's transport nightmare, here's what would help:  

Driver Training & Behaviour Reform—An untrained, reckless driver on a pink bus is just as dangerous as a green one.

Strict Vehicle Fitness Regulations—No amount of paint can hide the fact that some of these buses should have been scrapped years ago. 
 
Traffic Rule Enforcement—If traffic laws are enforced properly, we won't need to rely on symbolic gestures to create order.  
Passenger Safety Initiatives—More than new buses, we need a public transport system where passengers—especially women—feel safe.  

A bus is not better because it's pink, and a force is not friendlier because its uniform is lighter. The real change comes when we address the mindsets, behaviours and accountability structures that shape how these institutions function.  

Otherwise, we'll keep repainting over cracks while the foundation crumbles.

Shafiq R Bhuiyan is a storyteller who examines the intersection of social progress, effective communication, cultural development, and corporate social responsibility while sharing insights to inspire change. 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.