Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam today spoke at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC). Photo: PID

DHAKA, Aug 18, 2026 (BSS) – Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam today said the women-only bus service would be expanded across the country in phases.

“The government is committed to ensuring safe, comfortable and women-friendly public transport,” he said while inaugurating a women-only bus service at the headquarters of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) here.

He said women often face various forms of discomfort and risks while waiting for buses, travelling on them and getting off. The women-friendly bus service has been introduced to provide them with a safer environment, he added.

“The objective is to ensure that women can travel comfortably and participate more actively in the country’s economic and social activities,” he said.

Noting that women account for nearly half of the country’s population and more than half of its voters, Shaikh Rabiul said their contributions to nation-building and the economy are equally important.

He stressed the need for safe and reliable transport facilities so that women’s potential can be utilised for the country’s development.

State Minister for Road Transport and Highways Division Habibur Rashid, Road Transport Division Secretary Dr Mohammad Ziaul Haque and senior officials from various ministries attended the programme.

The minister said introducing a dedicated bus service for women was one of the commitments of the present government.

Referring to BRTC’s current operations, Shaikh Rabiul said the corporation is now operating more than 1,200 buses and over 500 trucks.

The minister said steps are being taken to transform BRTC into a more modern, passenger-friendly and efficient organisation. Changes would also be made to the route management system of public transport in the capital, he added.

Pointing to inconsistencies in Dhaka’s route permit system, Shaikh Rabiul said permits still exist for many routes that are no longer operational, while buses operate on some routes without valid permits.

The government would now reassess the routes based on passenger demand, traffic pressure and current requirements and rationalise route permits and transport management accordingly.

The minister also said the government had taken initiatives to introduce electric buses to develop an environment-friendly public transport system.

As part of the initiative, 200 electric buses have already been procured through a direct purchasing process, he said. There is a plan to designate 100 of those buses for women.

He explained that procuring electric buses through a project would require project formulation, approval, tendering and international procurement procedures, which could take around one and a half to two years.

“To introduce environment-friendly transport quickly, we have therefore opted for direct procurement system,” he said.

Shaikh Rabiul said the country must gradually move away from fossil-fuel-dependent transport and build a greener, environment-friendly transport system. Electric buses would be an important part of that plan, he said, adding that the initiative would eventually be expanded beyond Dhaka to other parts of the country.

Praising the female drivers, the minister said women are in no way less capable than men.

“They can drive vehicles efficiently and perform their responsibilities,” he said, noting that women in Bangladesh had demonstrated courage and sacrifice during the Liberation War and at various other critical moments in the country’s history.

He called for greater opportunities for women in the transport sector, saying women are now leading in various fields and making important contributions to the state and economy.

Ensuring safe transportation, he said, would further increase women’s participation in employment, education and economic activities.

Addressing the BRTC officials and other stakeholders, the minister said the quality of the newly launched service must be improved further within two months.

“Responsibility does not end with the inauguration,” he said, warning that several initiatives in the past had effectively ceased within months of their inauguration.

The present government would not allow such a situation to recur, he said.

The minister instructed the BRTC to make necessary changes to its operations, management and manpower arrangements to ensure that the women’s bus service remains sustainable and effective.

He also stressed giving the highest priority to passenger safety, comfort and punctuality, saying an environment must be ensured where women can board the buses confidently and comfortably.

He assured that the government would provide all necessary support to improve the service and said the relevant ministry would remain accountable in this regard.

Calling on journalists to highlight both the positive and negative aspects of the initiative, Shaikh Rabiul said any errors or shortcomings should be brought to the authorities’ attention so that they could be corrected quickly.

He described the launch of the women-friendly bus service as a timely and necessary initiative, but said its biggest challenge would be to sustain the service, improve its quality and expand it to new routes.

BRTC Chairman Abdul Latif Molla presided over the programme where Additional Secretary of the ministry Anisur Rahman, Chief Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department Md Moniruzzaman and senior officials from various ministries were also present.

Local public representatives and district administration officials from Chattogram and Bogura joined the programme online.