Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s directive designating the initial coach of the nation’s inaugural metro rail service for women has been implemented, ensuring a secure and convenient commuting experience for female passengers. This proactive measure has brought significant relief to women using the metro, as they finally have a dedicated space that addresses the difficulties they often face when using public transport in Dhaka.
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Several stations along the Uttara-Agargaon metro rail route have special gates and platform segments reserved exclusively for women, with regular announcements reiterating the policy. Security personnel are quick to redirect male passengers who mistakenly enter the designated area. We keep hearing recurring messages on the station’s speaker system, specifying- “The front coach is reserved for women only.”
Positive Feedback from Women Passengers
A metro traveler extended her thanks for the reserved coach system and commented- “The separate coach system in the metro provides an outstanding level of comfort and safety for female passengers. It eliminates any discomfort, even during peak hours.”
Another working woman conveyed- “The introduction of dedicated metro rail coaches for women is a remarkable step forward. I’m deeply appreciative of the government’s efforts in this regard. I firmly endorse the extension of such structured systems across all modes of women’s transportation, as it can significantly enhance their workforce involvement.”
A woman in her fifties said- “I feel a lot of pain in my legs. I find it hard to stand so I’m sitting down. The good thing here is that you can sit down if you feel unwell. We may be getting on in years but we also want to go out sometimes. I can’t always do that because if I travel by bus, I’ll be stuck in traffic for most of the journey.”
Awareness and Campaign Efforts
Despite the fact that certain female passengers are well-informed about the designated coaches and utilize them regularly, a significant number of others remain unaware of this service. As a result, overcrowding and related issues persist in non-reserved coaches for some women.
Furthermore, male passengers often find themselves in the women’s coach unintentionally. Thus, regular female commuters suggest that an increase in awareness campaigns is essential to maximize the advantages of the metro rail’s women-only coaches.
Regarding this matter, MAN Siddique, the Managing Director of DMTCL, stated that, in accordance with the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, DMTCL has introduced dedicated coaches for women in the metro rail system. This initiative has significantly improved the convenience and comfort of women’s commutes. Detailed guidelines for the reserved coaches can be found at every station, and our campaign efforts in this regard are ongoing. Furthermore, as the metro rail network expands in the future, the number of coaches reserved for women will also increase.
Demand for Expanding Women-Only Services
Bus is the most common mode of public transportation for both women and men around the country. Sexual harassment happens to be one of the biggest problems on public transport for women. Even though there is a longstanding practice of designating seats for women, it is far from adequate, as the number of reserved seats is insufficient for the female passenger, and these seats are frequently taken up by male travelers.
Several recommended measures have been proposed by specialists, including the introduction of women-only bus services, the installation of CCTV cameras and vehicle-tracking systems in all public transportation vehicles, affixing nameplates with driver and helper names, and the implementation of mobile court operations to penalize harassers. It is imperative for the authorities to consider these suggestions with the aim of creating a safer commuting environment for women.
Female Operators to Lead Dhaka Metro Rail
Moryom Afiza and Asma Akhter has been appointed as the “train operators” for metro rail. Both individuals completed a two-month training program at the Bangladesh Railway Training Academy in Chattogram’s Halishahar before returning to Dhaka, where they underwent an additional four months of training. They are currently receiving technical and practical training at the metro rail depot in Uttara’s Diabari.
Specialists from the Japanese metro rail construction firm Mitsubishi-Kawasaki are conducting diverse training sessions on the technical and operational aspects of train systems. Subsequently, these experts will undergo further training at the Delhi Metro Rail Academy. Additionally, authorities are considering the possibility of training personnel engaged in train operations in Japan when the need arises.
Asma Akhter stated, “The advertisement in the paper wasn’t just about a job opportunity for me. I had a profound passion for the metro rail system, which is why I committed myself to mastering all the aspects of the metro rail during my training.”
In the words of Moryom Afiza, “Much like others, the prospect of working on the metro rail is a dream come true for me. I’m filled with excitement at the prospect of personally operating the train. My foremost aim is to diligently complete all the required training and skill acquisition.”
To wrap things up, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visionary directive to designate the initial coach of the nation’s inaugural metro rail service for women has not only been successfully implemented but has also ushered in a new era of secure and convenient commuting for female passengers in Dhaka. The positive feedback from women passengers speaks volumes about the comfort and safety these dedicated coaches provide, and it’s heartening to see such an impactful step forward.
As we look forward, it’s crucial that we continue to support and promote such initiatives, striving for a safer, more inclusive, and comfortable commuting environment for women in Dhaka. The success of the metro rail’s women-only coaches paves the way for more positive changes in the future.
