BRTC's female bus services are kept for women but they are not meeting the demand of passengers. Passengers are avoiding this service by raising various complaints including irony. Experts think that passengers are showing less interest in female buses because they are not getting the required services.
Passengers said that although this service received a great response in the beginning, women passengers gradually lost interest in it due to insufficient buses, no buses on time, repeated stops to pick up passengers and standing at the same place for a long time. In order to reach office on time and reach home early, women show interest in traveling by local bus, pushing various obstacles.
Meanwhile, women feel more comfortable on the metro after the introduction of Metrorail in the capital. As a result, except for one or two stops, passengers are hardly seen in BRTC female buses. Besides, the number of female buses in the capital is less. Only one bus departs from a stop at a given time. But not everyone's working hours start at the same time. As a result, each person has to leave at different times. Apart from that BRTC's drivers are slow and buses are not on time which is the reason of loss of interest of passengers.
Dr. Fawzia Moslem, President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad said women have to look for alternative transport as the transport is less than the need. The fixed fare of female buses is also a factor. Female fares are slightly higher. Most of the working women who board the women's buses are in low-wage jobs. If bus fares are kept low considering them then many women will be interested in taking this service.
Incidentally, the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) launched an experimental women's bus service in 1998 to facilitate the movement of female employees on the journey. Later, the demand for these buses increased and gradually 23 female bus services were introduced on 20 routes. This service is introduced for women at the beginning and end of office in the morning and afternoon.
This service has been completely closed from March 23, 2020 during the Corona period. Later, from January 2023, 6 female buses were introduced on 6 routes. In this regard, a statement was given from the BRTC office that the routes are being launched gradually in view of the demand. At present, it is known from the BRTC website that there are a total of 9 female bus services operating on 9 routes, report said.
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) 2019 data, the participation rate of women in the workplace in Bangladesh is 38 percent. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics' 2016-17 labor force survey stated that the percentage of women is 36.3 pc. Most of them are residents of the capital. Local bus is the main mode of transportation for this large number of women workers. However, while traveling in these buses, women are subjected to mental and physical harassment in various ways. There is crowding, pushing and shoving, and there are often incidents like handing on these buses. Women have to bear a lot of irony while standing in heaps without getting a seat in the overcrowded crowd.
Meanwhile, according to the information given on BRTC website, from Rupnagar to Agargaon to Motijheel, Mirpur 10 area to Shyamoli to Motijheel, Narayanganj to Motijheel, Mohammadpur to Motijheel, Natun Bazarbazar (Coca Cola) to Motijheel, Meradia to Motijheel, Taltala to Malibagh via Motijheel, Demra Staff Quarter From Jatrabari, and from there to GPO, and from Kalabagan to Matsya Bhaban, and from there to Motijheel, there are 9 BRTC women buses running on these 9 routes. However, on inquiry about these buses, it is known that the women's bus from Demra staff quarters to GPO is now closed. No official statement from BRTC has been given so far regarding the closure of this service.
Md Masud Talukder, Manager of Jatrabari Bus Depot of BRTC said that the bus is temporarily closed. After the election of the 12th National Assembly, there were incidents of setting fire to various buses in the country. Since then, the bus has been temporarily stopped due to safety concerns. Also, the number of passengers on this route is very less. So there is not much pressure from the passengers. However, some work is being done to improve our bus service. As soon as the work is completed, the bus will move on the route as soon as possible.
ZH
