Woes of women commuters

Our traffic and law enforcement agencies should jointly work so to deter all such objectionable conducts shown to our city women

A new study revealed that some 56 per cent of the city women in the capital are reluctant to commute or go outside because of poor and unsafe transport system while 43.5 percent stated that they deliberately limit their free movement due to the absence of adequate facilities for them. Moreover, the same study under the banner of ‘Gender Responsive Urban Planning’ mentioned that most of the capital’s underpasses and overpasses including foot-over bridges are not featured with adequate lights and CCTVs. 
The point, however, if the report’s findings prevails for too long then it’s not only the safe and convenient commuting of our women which would keep decreasing , but unsafe and insecure commuting would potentially cause many avoidable accidents and mishaps. When the city corporation was divided into two it was expected that many of the missing features witnessed in the capital’s roads would be promptly addressed and streamlined. We don’t know why it didn’t happen. Moreover, given Dhaka’s increasing unsafe and chaotic road situations both the city corporations should have developed extra capacities for rendering services to our city women. That didn’t happen either.        
 Concerned authorities must immediately look into this matter of grave concern. The fact is - women’s multiple roles and responsibilities at home and workplace naturally leads to more diverse interactions with the city’s built ecology and their journeys are typically more varied and complex than men’s. This truth is in need of quick recognition. 
Responding to the study survey, some 22.5 percent female respondents mentioned about harassment by co-passengers, drivers, helpers and others, while 42 percent mentioned about lack of cooperation by auto drivers. In the light of such discouraging revelations our traffic and law enforcement agencies should jointly work so to deter all such objectionable conducts shown to our city women. It’s right here where the need to know about gender equality and moral dignity matters the most. Good manners become more important to good driving. 
Coming out from impoverished backgrounds our drivers and helpers have quite often been accused for their ill-treatments to passengers. Now that the sad truth is a registered one, our transport owners should immediately take steps to reform their unruly employees. 
Lastly, we call for our urban planners and decision-makers to design urban spaces and city infrastructures in accordance with the need of our women since the study further stated that some 19 percent of our women have expressed dissatisfaction over anti-social activities within our cityscapes while some 42 percent women feels insecure in park and open spaces. We want our city women to be secured and safe in terms of moving freely in our capital. The report should be taken with due diligence and acted upon.

 

Woes of women commuters

Our traffic and law enforcement agencies should jointly work so to deter all such objectionable conducts shown to our city women

A new study revealed that some 56 per cent of the city women in the capital are reluctant to commute or go outside because of poor and unsafe transport system while 43.5 percent stated that they deliberately limit their free movement due to the absence of adequate facilities for them. Moreover, the same study under the banner of Gender Responsive Urban Planning mentioned that most of the capitals underpasses and overpasses including foot-over bridges are not featured with adequate lights and CCTVs. The point, however, if the reports findings prevails for too long then its not only the safe and convenient commuting of our women which would keep decreasing , but unsafe and insecure commuting would potentially cause many avoidable accidents and mishaps. When the city corporation was divided into two it was expected that many of the missing features witnessed in the capitals roads would be promptly addressed and streamlined. We dont know why it didnt happen. Moreover, given Dhakas increasing unsafe and chaotic road situations both the city corporations should have developed extra capacities for rendering services to our city women. That didnt happen either. Concerned authorities must immediately look into this matter of grave concern. The fact is - womens multiple roles and responsibilities at home and workplace naturally leads to more diverse interactions with the citys built ecology and their journeys are typically more varied and complex than mens. This truth is in need of quick recognition. Responding to the study survey, some 22.5 percent female respondents mentioned about harassment by co-passengers, drivers, helpers and others, while 42 percent mentioned about lack of cooperation by auto drivers. In the light of such discouraging revelations our traffic and law enforcement agencies should jointly work so to deter all such objectionable conducts shown to our city women. Its right here where the need to know about gender equality and moral dignity matters the most. Good manners become more important to good driving. Coming out from impoverished backgrounds our drivers and helpers have quite often been accused for their ill-treatments to passengers. Now that the sad truth is a registered one, our transport owners should immediately take steps to reform their unruly employees. Lastly, we call for our urban planners and decision-makers to design urban spaces and city infrastructures in accordance with the need of our women since the study further stated that some 19 percent of our women have expressed dissatisfaction over anti-social activities within our cityscapes while some 42 percent women feels insecure in park and open spaces. We want our city women to be secured and safe in terms of moving freely in our capital. The report should be taken with due diligence and acted upon.