A shocking 83% of women using urban public transport in Bangladesh experience physical or mental abuse, according to a report by the Bangladesh Road Safety Network (BSRN).
BSRN Coordinator Pahari Bhattacharya stated that the country’s transport system is “not women-friendly”, citing structural flaws such as narrow gates and poorly designed buses. Women are often seated near the front engine, forcing male passengers to step over them — a design that directly contributes to widespread harassment.
The report also exposes gender-based discrimination, revealing that women are frequently denied boarding by both staff and passengers during rush hours.
BSRN is calling for urgent institutional reforms and a sustainable, inclusive transport policy. Their key demands include mandatory redesigns, particularly relocating bus doors to the middle, to make public transport safer and more accessible for women and disabled individuals.
Source: Kaler Kantho
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