Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation, or BRTC, has launched a special pink women’s bus service in the capital and several districts to ensure safer, more comfortable and uninterrupted travel for women. The buses will be operated by female drivers and conductors. Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam inaugurated the service on Tuesday at about 11:30am at the BRTC Dhaka Truck Depot premises in Tejgaon.

The minister said 14 buses will operate on 13 routes: 10 buses on 10 routes in Dhaka, two buses on one route in Chattogram and two buses on two routes in Bogura. Dhaka routes include New Bazar (Coca-Cola)-Motijheel, Taltala-Motijheel, Demra Staff Quarter-Motijheel, Mirpur-10-Motijheel, Mirpur-12-Motijheel, Abdullahpur Quarter-GPO, Mirpur-Motijheel and Mohammadpur-Motijheel. A special service is also planned for the Gazipur-Airport route.

The New Bazar-to-Motijheel service will travel via Coca-Cola, Badda, Rampura, Malibagh, Kakrail, Paltan and Gulistan. Two buses will run on the Sherpur-Matidali route in Bogura, while two will operate on the Kalurghat-Patenga route in Chattogram. The minister said BRTC plans to expand routes and increase the number of buses while improving the travel environment for women passengers.