Women-only transport services launched over the last few years by the government and the private sector, have been going through difficulties from the onset of the launch.
These initiatives, be they public or private, gradually become inactive either due to their insufficient numbers, unavailability, lack of promotion, poor response from the designated passengers or for their unheard-of status.
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) launched a special bus service for women in 2016 for convenience of women passengers. The 22 buses, assigned only to women, operated in 17 routes. Even before the emergence of coronavirus, this facility could not meet the expectations of women as they could not reap the benefits of this service.
Considering the number of regularly operating buses in Dhaka, the number of women-only buses was nominal.
Although these buses were launched to make a positive difference, they were proved largely ineffective due to the inadequate number coupled with neglected and unmonitored status. At present, only four buses are operating in four routes across the capital due to the pandemic.
“We will resume the bus service as soon as everything gets back to normal” BRTC DGM (Operation) Shukdeb Dhali told Bangladesh Post.
Some private organizations in recent years also launched ride sharing services only for women. Although insignificant in number, the initiatives are appreciative. Despite the positive intention, the condition of these few ride sharing services have been unsteady. The organizations are trying to promote and encourage women towards this kind of service, but the problem seems to be less participation of women, and the concept being relatively new.
In the congested city of Dhaka, bikes have the reputation for being a convenient option to reach one’s destination in the quickest way possible. But most women feel uncomfortable riding behind a male, and they also fall victim to the harassment of riders in many ways. Due to the many ordeals, this option is hardly considered by any women in the capital.
Obon, one of the features of home-grown ride-sharing app Obhai where both the riders and passengers are women, was launched at the end of 2017. Only women could send requests for rides through this feature. The organization provided more facilities to women riders to encourage them in this field. The service was gaining acquaintance and popularity slowly before the pandemic hit the world.
This feature has been inactive since March 2020. Anneysha Rahman, the team leader and coordinator of the project Obon said, our team has been dispersed due to the pandemic, but we are trying to get in touch with everyone. We are hopeful about recommencing Obon as soon as the situation gets normal.
Shuttle, another app based transport system launched in 2018 provides its service with air-conditioned microbuses only for females where 10-11 women can commute together at a reasonable fare. Females can avail these microbuses at specific times according to the app’s schedule.
Shuttle operates on specific routes with specific pickup and drop-off points. Things were going smooth before the pandemic, but Shuttle had to cease their operation due to the emergence of corona.
In the meantime, after gaining popularity it had launched another feature known as Shuttle for business in 2019 which provides services to the employees of specific organizations. Shuttle for business is currently operating across the capital, but Shuttle for women will resume their services in May as universities will be open by that time, informed Reyasat Chowdhury, Co-founder and CEO of Shuttle.
Apart from these, the ride sharing giant, Uber recently signed an agreement with Better Future for Women to create job opportunities for women drivers in Bangladesh. The agreement aims at creating job opportunities for women as drivers through the platform of Uber.
The country, along with the rest of the world is trying to go back to the pre-pandemic way of life. Prohibition on public transport was lifted long ago and all the other ride sharing apps are also operating in full swing at present. But when it comes to the women-only transport services, waiting becomes necessary for situations to go back to normalcy. With everything on the recovery trail, the prospect of women-centric transport services still remains uncertain.