The history of dedicated bus services for women in Bangladesh spans nearly three decades, launched to ensure safety, comfort, and seamless travel for working women and students on public transport. Initiated in 1997 under the direction of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and through the efforts of then Communications Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, this specialized service has navigated various ups and downs, arriving at the era of the “Pink Bus” in 2026.
Despite numerous initiatives by the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), government priority programmes, and repeated attempts at revival, dedicated women’s bus services have historically struggled with long-term sustainability. Management shortcomings, a shortage of fleet vehicles, inadequate maintenance, a lack of publicity, and flawed leasing arrangements caused these early services to gradually lose efficacy.
1997–98: The Debut of the ‘Women’s Bus’
The institutional journey of a separate bus service for women in Bangladesh began in 1997. Under the leadership of then Communications Minister Anwar Hossain Manju during the Awami League administration, BRTC launched its first dedicated women’s bus service to facilitate safe commutes for working women and female students.
By late 1998 or early 1999, a pilot initiative was introduced to launch a specialized bus service catering to female garment factory workers. Although these steps initially drew strong praise and demand from female commuters, they failed to establish a permanent footprint due to the absence of long-term planning, proper maintenance, and structured management.
2001–04: A Re-launch Under the 100-Day Programme
Following the 2001 general election, the incoming administration sought to alleviate women’s commuting difficulties as part of its initial 100-day priority agenda. The previously defunct women’s bus service was revamped and re-introduced on a broader scale across key routes in and around Dhaka with government funding in early 2002.
While the service functioned relatively smoothly for the first two to three years, weaknesses in oversight and maintenance for leased buses soon emerged. Vehicles broke down in rapid succession. Although the service was reorganized in August 2004 with 22 buses, the operational fleet eventually dwindled to 11 before becoming almost entirely non-functional.
2008–2024: Repeated Revivals and Persistent Challenges
Rather than scrapping the service entirely, BRTC periodically attempted to revive specialized buses for women. In July 2008, a dedicated service was re-launched with five buses operating on the Mirpur–Gulistan and Khilgaon Valtala–Gulistan routes.
Further revival efforts were initiated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges after 2009. As a result of these measures, the number of active buses rose to 12 by 2015.
However, the service continued to face stability issues. By early 2024, the active fleet dropped to between seven and nine buses. Due to insufficient publicity, many female commuters remained unaware of the schedules, operating hours, and routes. Consequently, buses often ran below capacity, prompting operators to board male passengers and effectively operating them as standard public buses.
This practice undermined the core objective of offering a dedicated transport option for women. The cumulative experience of nearly thirty years clearly demonstrated that simply introducing buses is insufficient to guarantee women-friendly public transit.
2026: A New Era with the ‘Pink Bus’
Learning from past experiences, BRTC introduced a newly conceptualized “Pink Bus Service” for women on 18 August 2026. This latest iteration goes beyond a mere cosmetic color update, incorporating major operational overhauls.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping Sheikh Rabiul Alam stated that, aligned with the current administration’s electoral manifesto, the Pink Bus Service is being operated by female drivers and female conductors.
He noted that the initiative will play a crucial role in expanding female participation in public transport while ensuring safe and comfortable journeys for women.
A defining feature of this initiative is the deployment of female drivers and conductors. To prepare for this specialized service, a preliminary cohort of approximately 16 female drivers underwent comprehensive professional training.
The newly deployed fleet consists of 14 pink double-decker buses. Ten of these buses will serve various routes in Dhaka and Narayanganj, while two will operate in Bogura and two in Chattogram.
The designated routes across Dhaka and Narayanganj include:
In Bogura, the service will run along the Sherpur – Matidali route, while in Chattogram, it will serve the Kalurghat – Patenga corridor.
Will the Outcome Differ This Time?
Three decades of experience suggest that the primary hurdle facing dedicated women’s bus initiatives has been operational continuity. Even with new vehicles on the road, a lack of adequate fleet support, routine maintenance, published schedules, route management, publicity, and structured oversight could result in familiar bottlenecks over time.
Replacing private leasing with direct government management and appointing female drivers and conductors distinguishes the current effort from past attempts. Ensuring public awareness of the service alongside strict adherence to scheduled routes and timings will remain critical to its long-term success.
The Pink Bus service aims to reduce harassment, non-consensual contact, and safety concerns on public transit while fostering employment opportunities for women. The primary question moving forward is whether this service can maintain long-term sustainability and operational efficiency following decades of mixed outcomes.
By Senior Reporter
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