Desk Report:
Sheikh Rabiul Alam, MP, Minister in charge of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping, has said that it is the responsibility of the state to ensure safe, comfortable and uninterrupted travel for women. At the time, he said, “A safe and passenger-friendly environment must be ensured for women not only after boarding the bus, but also while waiting for the bus and while getting off the bus. If harassment, discomfort or unsafe conditions arise while boarding and alighting the bus, women lose interest in using public transport. Therefore, ensuring safe travel for women is the responsibility of the state.”
He said these things while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the ‘Women Bus Service (Pink Bus)’ at a program organized by the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) at the BRTC Dhaka Truck Depot premises in Tejgaon in the capital today, Tuesday (18 August, 2026).
As part of the implementation of the current government’s election manifesto, this special bus service for women passengers, operated by female drivers and female conductors, has been launched to ensure safe and comfortable public transport for women.
State Minister for Railways and Road Transport and Highways Habibur Rashid MP and Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Dr. Mohammad Ziaul Haque were present as special guests at the event. BRTC Chairman Mr. Abdul Latif Mollah presided over the event.
Speaking as the chief guest, Roads and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam said that in addition to ensuring safe travel for women, the government is working to gradually make the country’s transport system environmentally friendly and modern. The use of electric vehicle (EV) buses will be increased by reducing dependence on fossil fuels. EV buses will also play an important role as part of the plan to establish a multimodal communication system in Dhaka.
He also said that an initiative has been taken to purchase 100 pink-colored electric buses for women passengers. The target has been set to launch 50 electric buses in the next three months and 100 in phases. BRTC has launched this pink bus service on a limited scale within the government’s 180-day action plan, using existing resources to quickly launch special services for women passengers.
At the same time, the Road Minister also said that in the initial phase, this service has been launched with a total of 14 buses on 13 routes in Dhaka, Chittagong and Bogra cities. Of these, 10 buses will operate in the capital Dhaka, 2 in Chittagong and 2 in Bogra. Out of the 10 buses operating on 10 routes in Dhaka, one is a single-decker and nine are double-decker buses. There are plans to operate two double-decker buses on one route in Chittagong and two double-decker buses on two routes in Bogra. Through this special bus service, transportation services will be provided to women passengers at a total of 134 stops in 106 stops in Dhaka, 12 in Chittagong and 16 in Bogra.
Speaking as a special guest at the event, State Minister for Railways and Road Transport and Highways Habibur Rashid MP said that BRTC’s special ‘Women Bus’ service has been launched to ensure safe and comfortable travel for women. The special feature of this service is that not only are the passengers female, but the bus drivers and conductors are also women. He also said that as part of the modern public transport system, e-ticketing, CCTV cameras and Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) facilities have been added to these buses.
Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Department Dr. Mohammad Ziaul Haque said that under this timely initiative, the goal is to add 50 electric vehicle (EV) buses to the special pink bus service operated for women passengers within the next three months and 100 within six months. At the same time, he expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone involved in this initiative.
BRTC Chairman Abdul Latif Mollah said that initiatives have been taken to transform BRTC, as the only state transport organization in the country, into a more modern, passenger-friendly and service-oriented organization. Initiatives have been taken to provide financing and loan assistance for the introduction of special bus services for women passengers and electric buses in city services in the future.
In addition to displaying the government-determined fare list for women’s bus services in visible places at depots, buses and counters, BRTC has also introduced an e-ticketing system. Recently, under the memorandum of understanding signed between BRTC and ‘Sahaj’.com, a digital ticketing system has been added to the women’s bus services. As a result, the process of collecting tickets before boarding the bus will be easier and the waiting time and counter dependency of passengers will be reduced.
In addition, closed circuit (CC) cameras have been introduced in 3 buses and Wi-Fi facilities in 1 bus in the initial stage. Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) has been added to each bus. These technologies will be expanded to all buses in phases.
The routes of the “Women Bus Service (Pink Bus)” for women passengers only are:
Dhaka Metropolitan City:
- Notun Bazar (Coca-Cola) – Motijheel route bus stops: Coca-Cola, Notun Bazar, North Badda, Middle Badda, Merul Badda, Rampura, Abul Hotel, Malibag, Kakrail, Paltan, Gulistan, Motijheel
- Taltala-Motijheel route bus stops: Taltala, Khilgaon Railgate, Basabo, Buddhist Temple, Mugda, Kamalapur Railway Station, Arambagh, Shapla Chattar, Secretariat
- Demra Staff Quarter-GPO route bus stops: Demra Staff Quarter, Basher Pul, Kajla, Jatrabari, Janpath Mor (Sayedabad), Wari (Baldha Garden), Gulistan, Paltan, Secretariat, Matsa Bhaban
- Mirpur 10- Motijheel route bus stops: Mirpur-10, Technical, Kalyanpur, Shyamoli, Asadgate, Kalabagan, Shahbag, Paltan, Motijheel
- Mirpur- Motijheel route bus stops: Mirpur-12, Mirpur-10, Mirpur-1, Technical, Shyamoli, Farmgate, Shahbag, Gulistan, Motijheel
- Mirpur 12- Motijheel route bus stops: Mirpur-12, Mirpur-11, Mirpur-10, Kazipara, Sheorapara, Farmgate, Shahbag, Press Club, Gulistan, Motijheel
- Narayanganj- Dhaka route bus stops: Chashara, Shibu Market, Stadium, Jhalkuri, Bhuigarh, Signboard, Rayerbag, Shanir Akhra, Tikatuli, Gulistan, Motijheel.
- Mohammadpur-Motijheel route bus stops: Mohammadpur, Shankar, Jhigatla, Dhanmondi-15, City College, New Market, Elephant Road, Shahbagh, Paltan Motijheel, Kamalapur
- Abdullahpur-Motijheel route bus stops: Abdullahpur, Azampur, Airport, Khilkhet, Bishwa Road, Kurmitola, Banani, Mohakhali, Farmgate, Shahbagh, Matsabhan, Press Club, Gulistan, Motijheel
- Gazipur-Airport route bus stops: Gazipur Shibbari, Gazipur Chowrasta, Maleker Bari, Board Bazar, Gazipura, College Gate, Station Road, Abdullahpur, Azampur, Airport
Bogra District: - Sherpur-Matidali route bus stops: RDA School, Naymile Intersection, Sha Sub Gate, B-Block-Majhira, Banani, Satmatha, Women’s College, Matidali
- Bus stop of Banani-Mokamtala Stand route: Banani, Satmatha, Women’s College, Matidali Intersection, TMSS Hospital, Mahasthan Bazar, Mokamtala Stand
Port City Chittagong: - Bus stop of Kalurghat-Patenga route: Kalurghat, Kaptai Road Head, Bahaddarhat, Muradpur, Gate No. 2, GEC Intersection, Lalkhan Bazar, Tiger Pass, Dewanhat, Chaumuhani, Agrabad, Barrack Building, Freeport, Kathgarh, Patenga
According to BRTC sources, one of the goals of this initiative is to ensure the safety and comfort of women, as well as increase the participation of women in public transport and develop an environment-friendly transport system. There are plans to increase the number of buses and routes in phases in the future.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Yasmin Parveen, Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, officials at various levels of the Road Transport and Highways Department, heads of various organizations, senior officials of BRTC, passengers and service recipients of the women’s bus service, and various stakeholders in the transport sector.
