The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) launched a women-only "Pink Bus" service on Aug. 18, 2024 [4], featuring female drivers and conductors.
The initiative aims to provide a dedicated transit option to improve safety for female commuters, a move that fulfills promises made in the government's election manifesto [5].
Ten buses began operating in Dhaka on the first day of the rollout [2]. The service expanded the following day with the addition of two lines in Chittagong and two lines in Bogra [3]. This brings the total number of pink buses currently operating to 14 [1].
These buses are reserved exclusively for female passengers and are operated entirely by women [1]. A BRTC spokesperson said in a press release that the service is a step toward ensuring women's safety in public transport [6].
Road Transport Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam emphasized the necessity of the project's continuity. "The pink bus must not disappear," Alam said [7].
The deployment follows ongoing concerns regarding the safety of women in the nation's public transportation systems. By staffing the vehicles with female personnel and restricting ridership to women, the government intends to reduce harassment and increase the mobility of women in urban centers [5].
“The pink bus service is a step towards ensuring women's safety in public transport.”
The launch of the Pink Bus service represents a structural attempt to address gender-based safety concerns in Bangladesh's transit infrastructure. By integrating women into traditionally male-dominated roles as drivers and conductors, the BRTC is simultaneously addressing employment barriers and passenger security. The success of the program will likely depend on whether the fleet can scale beyond the initial 14 buses to meet the demands of major urban corridors.
