Rickshaws and female passengers
By
Md. Foyaz Ahmed, Economics Dpt, University of Dhaka
25 March 2004, 18:00 PM
The Dhaka Transport Coordination Board, a watchdog of BRTC, has taken the initiative to withdraw rickshaws from the Mirpur Road (Azimpur to Kalabagan) and Science Laboratory to College Road (Banga Bazar) via Elephant Road and Shahbagh. Certainly it will reduce traffic jam and thereby prevent wastage of valuable time. The DTCB has mentioned in its notice that it will introduce more bus services in these routes to meet the demands of the commuters in the absence of rickshaws. These two routes are important market zones of the city. Because busy markets like New Market, Gauchia, Dhanmondi Hawkers Market, Chandni, Chandrima, Metro Shopping Mall, Markets of Elephant Road etc. are situated in these zones. Most of the customers of these markets are women. Those having private cars will not be affected by this move. But those who use rickshaws, especially women, will be affected a lot. There are a few seats for women in a bus. Most of the time these seats are occupied by male passengers. If a female passenger commute by a local bus without getting a seat, then in many cases she is harassed by some male passengers, even by conductors and helpers of the buses. To avoid these problems a female passenger can hire a taxicab or a CNG scooter. But this will be very costly for them, since most female passengers of rickshaws belong to middle class and lower middle class families. The DTCB should introduce special bus services for women. The number of seats in a bus for female passengers should also be increased.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.