Stakeholders unite in Rajshahi to advance safer, gender-sensitive public transport through coordinated action against harassment and violence. Photo : BSS

RAJSHAHI, July 5, 2026 (BSS)- Speakers at a meeting unequivocally called for coordinated initiatives to prevent gender-based violence and sexual harassment in public transport and to ensure a safe and supportive transport system for women.
 
The meeting was held this afternoon in the conference room of the city's Master Chef Restaurant. 

BRAC's Road Safety Programme organised the event while Rajshahi District Superintendent of Police Naimul Hassan attended it as the chief guest.
 
Special guests included Deputy Police Commissioner (Traffic) at Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Nur Alam Siddiqui, Highway Police Senior ASP Delwar Hossain, and BRAC District Coordinator Mohsin Ali.

Transport representatives, community police, volunteers, and officials from development organisations were also present.
 
Speakers at the meeting said that law enforcement alone is not enough to make public transport safe for women. 

Alongside it, social awareness, institutional coordination, and responsible roles from all parties involved in the transport system must be ensured. 

A women-friendly, safe transport system can be built if transport owners, workers, passengers, law enforcement agencies, and civil society work together.
 
Mainul Hossain, manager of BRAC's Road Safety Programme, outlined the program's goals and objectives. 

He said research-based planning, regular training, and coordinated steps are needed to ensure a safe transport system for women. Building a gender-sensitive transport system is the need of the hour.
 
Project Lead Nazmul Haque presented the keynote paper and spoke at the event. To ensure passenger safety in public transport, an effective complaint mechanism, prompt redress, and regular monitoring systems are essential, he said.
 
Systems must be developed so that women passengers who face harassment can easily lodge complaints and receive immediate assistance.
 
The discussion informed participants about findings from various studies on road safety and sexual harassment, High Court directives, and national helpline services. 

Detailed discussions were also held on the types of problems women face in public transport, what constitutes gender-based violence, and how to ensure gender-sensitive behavior.
 
The meeting was told that as part of BRAC's long-term development activities, the 'Shikha' project is being implemented from February 2025 to January 2029. 

The goal of this project is to ensure a safe, tolerant, and supportive environment for women and children in educational institutions, public transport, workplaces, public spaces, and digital platforms.
 
Participants opined that ensuring women's safety in public transport is difficult without coordinated efforts from police, traffic police, community police, transport organizations, government agencies, and volunteers.
 
Emphasis was placed on regular training, raising awareness, and developing effective monitoring systems.
 
At the end of the meeting, an action plan was adopted. It included recommendations to set up women-friendly help desks, strengthen complaint management systems, and ensure gender-sensitive behavior in the transport system.
 
In the open discussion, speakers included Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Assistant Police Commissioner Arjina Khatun, Boalia Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Masuma Mustari, Rajshahi District Information Office Deputy Director Nafeyala Nasrin, Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Urban Planner Boni Ahsan, Road Transport Group General Secretary Nazrul Islam Helal, among others.