Why abuse of women-children on public transport without redress

When travelling by vehicle, the ticket issued by the transport authority often contains the phrase ‘May your journey be safe’. But the question is, how safe is a passenger when travelling by public transport in Bangladesh? In particular, the matter that has now become a cause for concern is the abuse and rape of women and children on public transport. This is undoubtedly alarming and a major obstacle to women's empowerment.

According to a research report by BRAC titled ‘Sexual harassment- and accident-free roads for women’, 94 percent of women fall victim to verbal, physical, or other forms of sexual harassment when commuting on public transport in the country. Most women are harassed by men aged between 41 and 60, accounting for 66 percent. The main reasons behind sexual harassment of women include lack of proper enforcement of the law, overcrowding on buses, and inadequate lighting in vehicles.

We know that every day, both in the capital and across the country, minor and major road accidents occur. Many lose their lives in these tragic accidents, while many others are forced to suffer the curse of disability. Alongside such tragic road accidents, incidents of sexual harassment, rape, and even murder following rape are also taking place on public transports. While road accidents are constantly discussed, the issue of abuse and oppression of women on public transport receives very little attention. As a result, these abused women and girl children suffer from various physical and mental problems later in life. This becomes a major obstacle to progress. The negative consequences of this are reflected in many areas of society.

Regrettably, despite various demands and suggestions being presented from different quarters, both governmental and non-governmental, to reduce road accidents, the issue of violence and safety for women using public transport remains sidelined. Moreover, incidents of abuse, violence, or rape of women and girls often do not even reach the court. And when the offender has close ties with influential people, the victim’s family does not receive proper justice! Sometimes the abuser even receives the blessings of some politician.

What I am saying is, there are positive laws and policies in the country to stop the physical, mental, and sexual abuse of women and girls. But due to lack of proper enforcement and awareness, the situation of child abuse in the country remains alarming. Therefore, despite progress in various areas, such attitudes towards women still reflect a backward society. Perhaps for this reason, in 1868 Karl Marx wrote in a letter to Ludwig Kugelmann, ‘Anyone who knows anything of history knows that great social changes are impossible without the feminine ferment.’

Therefore, we want to say that to ensure women’s safety, public transport must be women-friendly, and include drivers and assistants who are women-friendly. The mentality of passengers must also change. According to relevant individuals, the lack of trained drivers is a major problem when it comes to safety for women on the roads. There are practically no initiatives for establishing a women-friendly transport system and for creating professional female drivers. Alongside other safety-related measures, attention must be paid to training women drivers. At the same time, the lack of redress for abuse of women and children on public transport must be ended. The responsible authorities must be held accountable. Our expectation is that women’s journeys on public transport should be safe.