Sexual harassment in public transport an everyday experience
UNB, Dhaka :
Sexual harassment should not be the part of one’s travel, but this reprehensible act has become an everyday bitter experience for thousands of working female passengers and students who use public transport in a city like Dhaka.
These harassments range from inappropriate touching, penetrating stares, lewd gestures or comments and sex attacks, and the victims end up in powerlessness to protest. Jasmin Papri, a working woman in the city, describes her experiences of travelling in public busses reminding many have to accept these low-level abuses silently. “Public buses have become spaces of sexual misconduct for some perverted male passengers,” she says. Papri is not alone. This correspondent talked to a dozen of female passengers who came up with the same unexpected stories. “If you’re a female passenger then you’ll face numerous problems,” she told UNB mentioning that a female passenger means ‘you touch her’ in an inappropriate way. She said she had to engage in war of words with passengers when she protested the indecent conduct of a fellow male passenger in a public bus. “It’s not so easy to protest, as all male passengers might go against you together, but we shouldn’t spare anybody.”
Tamana Tanjila, a private university student, says she cannot describe in words what she has been facing every day in public busses. “First of all, there’s a negative attitude that drivers shouldn’t take female passengers. If a female passenger gets into a bus, male passengers won’t give her space to stand up at least. And when she tries to suit herself she’ll come across unwanted touches for sure,” she explains.
“Not that all passengers do this,” Ripa, another passenger, says adding that bus helpers are also ‘culprits’. “You can just see what they do in the name of help while getting down from busses.”
She also says a crowded bus is no excuse for unwanted sexual contact or behaviour. Advocate Salma Ali, Executive Director of Bangladesh Mahila Ainjibi Samity, acknowledges all these bizarre scenarios in public busses. “You won’t find anybody who isn’t familiar with this unexpected experience. It’s become a common problem now,” she told UNB.
She says there should be symbolic protest on the spot and female passengers should disclose it immediately to other passengers to expose such passengers. “Then she can file cases and if police doesn’t take case, we can help.” Salma Ali said there should be hotlines for availing of emergency help but these hotlines should be effective.
About inadequate supply of busses for women, she says there are some BRTC buses but those are captured by male passengers. “We’ve seen a big photo on the front page of a newspaper recently.” Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) Deputy General Manager (operation) Almas Ali told UNB that are 16 buses exclusively for female passengers in the city which are available on 12 routes.
But many passengers alleged that they cannot avail of these busses as in most cases they do not see these busses. “Most of the problems will be resolved once the demand and supply gap is minimized,” Dr M. Shafiq-Ur Rahman, Associate Prof, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Jahangirnagar University, told UNB mentioning that there is inadequate supply of public busses. He also says the issue of social ethics and values is also important which is largely valued in other countries. “We need to change our attitude (towards fellow passengers).” Dr Rahman who worked on the issue in the past says there should be effective law enforcement so that no one can dare to get involved in inappropriate actions.
Sexual harassment should not be the part of one’s travel, but this reprehensible act has become an everyday bitter experience for thousands of working female passengers and students who use public transport in a city like Dhaka.
These harassments range from inappropriate touching, penetrating stares, lewd gestures or comments and sex attacks, and the victims end up in powerlessness to protest. Jasmin Papri, a working woman in the city, describes her experiences of travelling in public busses reminding many have to accept these low-level abuses silently. “Public buses have become spaces of sexual misconduct for some perverted male passengers,” she says. Papri is not alone. This correspondent talked to a dozen of female passengers who came up with the same unexpected stories. “If you’re a female passenger then you’ll face numerous problems,” she told UNB mentioning that a female passenger means ‘you touch her’ in an inappropriate way. She said she had to engage in war of words with passengers when she protested the indecent conduct of a fellow male passenger in a public bus. “It’s not so easy to protest, as all male passengers might go against you together, but we shouldn’t spare anybody.”
Tamana Tanjila, a private university student, says she cannot describe in words what she has been facing every day in public busses. “First of all, there’s a negative attitude that drivers shouldn’t take female passengers. If a female passenger gets into a bus, male passengers won’t give her space to stand up at least. And when she tries to suit herself she’ll come across unwanted touches for sure,” she explains.
“Not that all passengers do this,” Ripa, another passenger, says adding that bus helpers are also ‘culprits’. “You can just see what they do in the name of help while getting down from busses.”
She also says a crowded bus is no excuse for unwanted sexual contact or behaviour. Advocate Salma Ali, Executive Director of Bangladesh Mahila Ainjibi Samity, acknowledges all these bizarre scenarios in public busses. “You won’t find anybody who isn’t familiar with this unexpected experience. It’s become a common problem now,” she told UNB.
She says there should be symbolic protest on the spot and female passengers should disclose it immediately to other passengers to expose such passengers. “Then she can file cases and if police doesn’t take case, we can help.” Salma Ali said there should be hotlines for availing of emergency help but these hotlines should be effective.
About inadequate supply of busses for women, she says there are some BRTC buses but those are captured by male passengers. “We’ve seen a big photo on the front page of a newspaper recently.” Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) Deputy General Manager (operation) Almas Ali told UNB that are 16 buses exclusively for female passengers in the city which are available on 12 routes.
But many passengers alleged that they cannot avail of these busses as in most cases they do not see these busses. “Most of the problems will be resolved once the demand and supply gap is minimized,” Dr M. Shafiq-Ur Rahman, Associate Prof, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Jahangirnagar University, told UNB mentioning that there is inadequate supply of public busses. He also says the issue of social ethics and values is also important which is largely valued in other countries. “We need to change our attitude (towards fellow passengers).” Dr Rahman who worked on the issue in the past says there should be effective law enforcement so that no one can dare to get involved in inappropriate actions.