Around 94 per cent women fall victim to different types of sexual harassment, including molestation, on public transport in the country, reveals a survey.
The findings of the survey were made public at a report presentation programme titled 'Safe road for women: Reducing sexual harassment and road crash in Bangladesh' held at the National Press Club in the city on Tuesday.
Brac conducted the survey in association with Brac University.
Besides, 66 per cent of women surveyed said incidents of sexual harassment were mainly committed by men aged between 41 and 60.
The survey identified lack of law enforcement, overcrowd of passengers and inadequate lighting in vehicles and want of proper monitoring and supervision as among the major causes for sexual harassment.
Professor Syed Saad Andaleeb, Professor Simeen Mahmud, Fahmida Sadia and Kabita Chowdhury carried out the study in Dhaka city, Gazipur and Birulia of Savar from April to June in 2017, in which a total of 415 women talked about their experiences as respondents.
Around 81 per cent of the women surveyed said they keep silent in case of facing any such indecent gesture while 79 per cent said they change their seat or standing place rather than protesting such offence.
The research observed that segregated education system is one of the major causes behind the scenario, and lack of proper guidance and education are also playing role in the women's victimisation on road and public transport.
Hasne Ara Begum, coordinator of the Gender, Justice and Diversity Programme, and Kabita Chowdhury, research associate of Brac, presented the survey report at the event.
Ahead of International Women's Day (on March 8), organisers arranged the programme aiming to expedite the ongoing awareness efforts in favour of women safety and security in the country.
Ahmed Najmul Hussain, director of the administration and road safety programme of Brac, said they launched an awareness building programme involving teachers and students of 100 schools near Gazipur and Tangail highways.
Speakers at the event stressed the need for proper implementation of the law against sexual harassment apart from awareness building to provide safety and security to women.
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