Will buses ever be women-friendly?

Hundreds of women and children have to commute daily in Dhaka city to reach their workplaces and educational institutions. Most of them cannot buy car, nor afford CNG-driven auto-rickshaws or Uber taxi service. Some use rickshaws. And many have to travel by public buses. These buses are not friendly to women and children at all.

Commuting in these dirty, congested buses is a nightmare for most of them. During rush hours, it becomes hard to catch any bus on time. Misbehaviours by transport workers and male co-passengers are almost everywhere. Unreported sexual and physical harassment against women are also a regular phenomenon. How long will we wait to get a decent and women-friendly public bus service? Is it an impossible goal to achieve? The government needs to take stern action in this connection.

Shamapti Yasmin,

Karwan Bazar, Dhaka