A five-day training workshop for bus drivers and helpers has begun here to prevent sexual harassment in public transport.
Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) and Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) jointly organised the training sessio, with support from the Embassy of Sweden on Sunday.
Nilima Akhter, executive director of DTCA inaugurated the training session, said a press release.
Nilima cited a BRAC study titled Safe Roads for Women: Free from Harassment and Accidents, which found that 94% of women in Bangladesh face verbal, physical, or other forms of sexual harassment while using public transport.
Among them, 66% of the perpetrators are men aged around 41-60, she said.
Lack of proper legal enforcement, overcrowding, inadequate lighting in buses and insufficient monitoring, such as the absence of CCTV cameras, contribute to the problem, she added.
“This initiative is part of the government’s commitment to ensuring women-friendly public transport,” said DTCA executive director.
She also mentioned that sustainable national development is impossible without women's advancement.
She urged behavioral changes among transport workers and passengers to create a safer commuting environment.
Highlighting DTCA’s efforts for inclusive public transport, she noted that previous initiatives introduced disability-friendly transport and promoted non-motorized mobility through observances like ‘World Car-Free Day.’
MJF Director Banashree Mitra Niyogi described sexual harassment as a social epidemic that undermines safety and stability.
She stressed that ensuring women's dignity is essential for a peaceful society.
MJF Program Manager Soma Dutta pointed out that apart from the national emergency helpline 999, people facing harassment can also seek help by calling 1098 and 109.
She called for greater public awareness of these helplines and encouraged bus drivers to report incidents they cannot control.
Dhrubo Alam, director of DTCA’s Bus Route Rationalization Project, said ensuring women's safety in public transport is crucial.
“This training marks the start of a broader awareness campaign. Those who receive this training must share their knowledge, fostering positive change in the transport sector and society,” he said.
He also announced that drivers and helpers would receive certificates upon completion of the training.
The event also featured speeches from DTCA’s Training Advisor Mohammad Hamid Mia.
The training sessions are being conducted by Subhasish Chandra Mohanto and DTCA’s Traffic Enforcement Officer Md. Selim Khan.
Meanwhile, MJF has launched a campaign titled Safe Commutes, Respectful Cities to address harassment in public transport and promote an inclusive and respectful environment for all passengers.
The campaign is being implemented under the Community-based Resilience and Women’s Empowerment and Action (CREA) project, funded by the Embassy of Sweden and executed in collaboration with DTCA.