The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) will launch a special women's bus service in Dhaka from Aug. 18, with women serving as drivers and conductors, to make public transport safer and more comfortable for female passengers.
The service will be inaugurated at 10 a.m. at the BRTC Dhaka Truck Depot in Tejgaon on Tuesday.
Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Water Transport Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam will attend the inauguration as chief guest. State Minister for Railways and Road Transport and Highways Habibur Rashid and Road Transport and Highways Secretary Dr Mohammad Ziaul Haque will attend as special guests. BRTC Chairman Abdul Latif Molla will preside over the ceremony.
BRTC Public Relations Officer Mostakim Bhuiyan said the service would initially operate with 10 buses on important routes in Dhaka. Four more buses would operate outside the capital, including two in Bogra and two in Chittagong.
After the Aug. 18 inauguration, the buses will operate in the afternoon subject to passenger demand, Bhuiyan said. Full service on the designated routes will begin on Aug. 19.
The BRTC plans to increase the number of buses depending on passenger demand and needs, he said.
The routes have been selected to connect important areas of Dhaka, according to BRTC sources.
Dhaka routes
Buses will operate on the Notun Bazar (Coca-Cola)-Motijheel and Taltala-Motijheel routes under the Motijheel Bus Depot.
On the Notun Bazar (Coca-Cola)-Motijheel route, buses will travel via Coca-Cola, Notun Bazar, Uttar Badda, Madhya Badda, Merul Badda, Rampura, Abul Hotel, Malibagh, Kakrail, Paltan and Gulistan.
On the Taltala-Motijheel route, buses will travel via Taltala, Khilgaon Railgate, Basabo, Buddhist Temple, Mugda, Kamalapur Railway Station, Arambagh, Shapla Chattar and the Secretariat.
A bus will operate on the Demra Staff Quarter-GPO route under the Jatrabari Bus Depot, travelling via Demra Staff Quarter, Bansher Pul, Kajla, Jatrabari, Janpath More, Gulistan, Paltan, the Secretariat and Matsya Bhaban.
Buses will operate on the Mirpur-10-Motijheel route under the Kalyanpur Bus Depot, travelling via Mirpur-10, Technical, Kalyanpur, Shyamoli, Asadgate, Kalabagan, Shahbag and Paltan.
Buses will also operate on the Mirpur-Motijheel and Mirpur-12-Motijheel routes under the Mirpur Bus Depot.
On the Mirpur-Motijheel route, buses will travel via Mirpur-12, Mirpur-10, Mirpur-1, Technical, Shyamoli, Farmgate, Shahbag and Gulistan.
On the Mirpur-12-Motijheel route, buses will travel via Mirpur-12, Mirpur-11, Mirpur-10, Kazipara, Sheorapara, Farmgate, Shahbag, Press Club and Gulistan.
Special buses will operate on the Mohammadpur-Motijheel route under the Mohammadpur Bus Depot.
Buses will also operate on the Abdullahpur-Motijheel route under the Joarsahara Bus Depot, travelling via Abdullahpur, Airport, Khilkhet, Bishwa Road, Kuril, Banani, Mohakhali, Farmgate, Shahbag, Press Club and Gulistan.
Special buses will also operate on the Gazipur-Airport route under the Gazipur Bus Depot, travelling via Gazipur, Shibbari, Gazipur Chowrasta, Maleker Bari, Board Bazar, Gazipur Collegegate, Station Road, Abdullahpur and Ashpur to the airport.
'Pink buses' outside Dhaka
Two buses will operate on the Sherpur-Matidali route in Bogura, while two will operate on the Kalurghat-Patenga route in Chattogram.
The Chattogram buses will travel via Kalurghat, Kaptai Road Head, Bahaddarhat, Muradpur, Gate No. 2, GEC Intersection, Lalkhan Bazar, Tiger Pass, Dewanhat, Chowmuhani, Agrabad, Barrack Building, Freeport and Katgarh to Patenga.
The BRTC said the women's bus service was being launched as part of the implementation of the government's election manifesto.
The corporation said it expected the service to improve the safety and comfort of women using public transport and increase women's participation in the workforce.
FP/R
