Campaign launched to ensure harassment-free transport for women

A new campaign titled "Hold The Bar - Not Her Space" was launched on Thursday to promote harassment-free public transport for women in the capital.

Sheikh Moinuddin, special assistant to the chief adviser on road transport and bridges, launched the campaign at a ceremony at the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) conference room, calling upon all to show respect for each other to ensure a safer and harassment-free public transport environment for women in Dhaka.

"The main problem in the city's transport sector is lack of respect for each other," he said, calling on female passengers to be vocal so that harassment-related issues can be addressed rightly.

Silence does not resolve any problem and cannot help the authorities take the right measures, Moinuddin, who joined three weeks ago as an expert to support the interim government to bring discipline in the transport system, said.

He reaffirmed the government's dedication to gender equality and inclusive mobility, reminding that showing respect to half the country's population is akin to showing self-respect.

"Preventing sexual harassment on public transport is a shared responsibility. Too often, we stay silent even when we witness harassment. But silence is not the solution - we must speak up," he added.

Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), in partnership with DTCA and UN Women Bangladesh and with support from the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka, officially launched the campaign.

DTCA Executive Director Neelima Akhter, Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Nicolas Weeks, UN Women Representative Gitanjali Singh, and MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam also spoke.

The DTCA executive director said training sessions for drivers and personnel of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), Dhaka Chaka, and Nagar Paribahan have already started under the campaign.

She emphasised introducing closed-circuit television (CCTV), well-lit bus stops, and one-stop service for filing complaints, along with creating robust public awareness for a women-friendly transport system.

A month before the campaign's launch, more than 160 transport workers from Dhaka Chaka, Nagar Paribahan, BRTC, and Hanif Paribahan participated in training sessions held from March 16 to 20. The sessions focused on fostering gender sensitivity and awareness within the transport sector.

smunima@yahoo.com