The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has launched a dedicated ‘Pink Bus’ service for women in Dhaka and two other districts to provide safer and more comfortable public transportation for female passengers.
The service was formally inaugurated on Tuesday (August 18) at BRTC’s Dhaka Truck Depot in Tejgaon by Sheikh Robiul Alam, Minister for Road, Railways and Shipping.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the minister said the service would be expanded in the future to meet the needs of women passengers. New routes will gradually be introduced and the number of buses will also be increased. At the same time, efforts will be made to improve the overall environment in which women use public transportation.
Sheikh Robiul Alam emphasized that female passengers must feel comfortable throughout their journey, from boarding the bus to reaching their destination. He said launching the service alone would not be sufficient and that its quality must be continuously improved.
The minister also warned against allowing the women’s bus service to disappear after a few months, as has happened with some initiatives in the past. He said the government would ensure that the newly launched service remained operational and developed over time.
Addressing BRTC and ministry officials, he said the service launched on Tuesday should be performing at a higher standard within two months. Although the necessary logistics and manpower may not yet be fully prepared, he called for continuous improvement based on practical experience.
He said the government would take all necessary measures to create a safe and comfortable transportation environment for women and that the ministry would remain accountable for the initiative. Making the service sustainable, more efficient and broader in scope is now the main challenge, he added.
The minister stressed that women’s transportation safety should not be limited to conditions inside buses. The entire journey—from waiting for a bus and boarding it to getting off at the destination—must be made safe and passenger-friendly.
He noted that women often face uncomfortable or unsafe situations while waiting for buses. Poor management inside buses can also create discomfort, while passengers may encounter unsafe conditions when getting off.
Highlighting the importance of safe transportation for women, Sheikh Robiul Alam said women account for nearly half of the country’s population and make significant contributions to national development. Women also represent more than half of the electorate and play an important role in household economies.
He said ensuring safe transportation is therefore essential if the country is to make full use of women’s capabilities and participation in national development.
14 Buses on 14 Routes
According to BRTC, the launch of a women-friendly transportation system operated by female drivers is part of the government’s commitment to improving women’s mobility.
The Pink Bus service has initially been launched with 14 buses. Of these, 10 buses will operate on 10 routes in Dhaka, two on two routes in Chattogram and two on two routes in Bogura.
Among the 10 buses operating in Dhaka, one is a single-decker and nine are double-decker buses.
The government plans to expand the service further by introducing buses on additional routes and increasing the fleet. Authorities also intend to gradually improve the overall conditions faced by women using public transportation.
BRTC to Improve Management and Modernize Services
Speaking about the current state of BRTC, the minister said the state-owned transport operator is currently running approximately 1,200 or more buses and is not operating at a loss, but rather at a break-even point.
However, he acknowledged shortcomings in service quality and operational management. According to him, BRTC’s existing management system needs to be fundamentally reorganized and modernized to make the service more efficient, up-to-date and passenger-friendly.
He also emphasized the need for bus route rationalization in Dhaka, noting that some routes still have permits despite no longer effectively existing, while buses operate on some routes without the required permits.
Many of the routes were established long ago and no longer correspond to current passenger demand. The government therefore plans to reassess routes and route permits based on present-day transportation needs and establish more effective management.
200 Electric Buses Planned
The minister also announced plans to directly purchase 200 electric buses as part of efforts to establish more environmentally friendly public transportation.
He said purchasing electric buses through a project could take at least one and a half years because of approval, tendering and international procurement procedures. For that reason, the government is considering direct procurement.
Sheikh Robiul Alam said electric buses could play an important role in establishing a multimodal transportation system. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels and developing environmentally sustainable public transportation are also part of the government’s commitments, he said.
Of the proposed 200 electric buses, 100 will be allocated for women on various routes, creating an opportunity to further expand the number of women-only bus routes and vehicles.
The government also plans to gradually extend the Pink Bus service beyond the areas currently covered to other divisions across the country.
State Minister for Roads and Highways and Railways Habib-ur-Rashid, the Secretary of the Roads Transport and Highways Division, the BRTC chairman and other relevant officials attended the inauguration ceremony.
Source: BRTC and Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges.