Bangladesh has launched a new bus service exclusively for women. The so-called "Pink Bus" will not only cater to female passengers; women will also drive the buses and work as conductors. The government aims to increase safety in public transportation with this project, while also creating more job opportunities for women in an industry traditionally dominated by men.
The new service was officially launched on Tuesday, August 18th, in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka by Shaikh Rabiul Alam, the Minister of Transport and Bridges. The operation is managed by the state-owned Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), which will directly oversee the pink buses.
The project is unique because it extends the separation of men and women beyond just passengers. Women will drive the buses, and other staff members will also be women. In the initial phase, 14 vehicles are planned to be deployed. Ten will operate in Dhaka, two will connect Dhaka with Bogra, and another two will serve the route between Dhaka and Chattogram.
The Bangladeshi government presents this project primarily as a measure to increase the safety and comfort of women in public transportation. According to Minister Alam, the service is expected to gradually expand to other major cities and regions of the country.
The goal is to create an environment where all aspects of the journey – from boarding to riding and disembarking – are managed by female staff. The minister also urged the BRTC management to continuously monitor the operation and adjust the service based on passenger feedback and needs.
The safety of women in crowded public transportation has been a long-standing issue in Bangladesh. Dhaka Tribune, in connection with the launch of the service, highlighted the experiences of women who have faced harassment and unwanted physical contact on overcrowded buses. One of the female drivers involved in the project stated that she herself had experienced similar behavior while using public transportation.
The project has a second dimension. BRTC aims to increase the representation of women among bus drivers and public transport workers through the Pink Bus initiative. The Bangladeshi news agency BSS reported that, in addition to safer travel, the initiative is also intended to create new job opportunities for women in the transportation sector.
Similar attempts at transportation services exclusively for women have existed in Dhaka in the past, but their operation was not consistently stable. The current government intends to gradually expand this new project based on passenger demand and the results of its initial phase.
The success of the pink buses will therefore depend not only on their distinctive color. What is crucial is whether they can offer regular, accessible, and reliable connections – and whether this pilot project becomes a permanent part of Bangladesh's public transportation system.
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