Don’t Stay Silent While Roads Are Violent: How Women Can Stay Safe from Sexual Harassment While Traveling During Holidays

Every year, especially during Eid, Puja, or winter holidays, women and girls in Bangladesh face not just the chaos of travel—but a deeper, silent threat: sexual harassment in public transport.

From inappropriate touching on crowded buses to lewd comments at terminals, the issue is widespread and disturbingly normalised. Women often feel they have no choice but to tolerate the abuse—because speaking out means risking further humiliation, or worse, being blamed.

A Widespread but Underreported Reality

Sexual harassment in public spaces, particularly on roads and public transport, is one of the most common forms of violence faced by Bangladeshi women. According to ActionAid Bangladesh, 84% of women have experienced sexual harassment on public transport at some point in their lives.

The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) 2019 report on violence against women found that 13% of women experienced sexual harassment in public spaces, with transport being a key setting. However, this number is likely much higher due to underreporting—many women don’t file complaints out of fear, social stigma, or lack of trust in authorities.

Why It Gets Worse During the Holidays

Travel rushes during major holidays like Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, or Durga Puja create the perfect storm:

• Overcrowded terminals and buses leave little room for personal space.

• Long queues and night travel increase vulnerability.

• Security personnel are stretched thin, and the focus shifts more toward traffic than passenger safety.

“During Eid, I always feel unsafe on long bus rides,” says Samia, a private university student. “Once, a man sat next to me and kept leaning in. The bus was full, and I had nowhere to go.”

The Psychological Toll

Repeated exposure to harassment not only restricts women’s physical movement but also damages mental health. Many women avoid jobs or educational opportunities simply because they fear the daily commute. This creates a gender gap in mobility and directly affects their sexual and reproductive rights—especially access to health services, safe maternity care, and protection from violence.

How Women Can Stay Alert and Prepared

While structural changes are urgently needed, individual precautions can help reduce risk. Here are some practical safety tips for women travelling during holidays or rush hours:

✅ Before the Journey

• Choose reliable transport services (like BRTC or ride-sharing apps with good reviews).

• Travel during daylight hours whenever possible.

• Inform someone about your travel time, route, and destination.

• Carry a power bank to keep your phone charged for emergencies.

🚌 During the Journey

• Avoid isolated seats at the back or near exits.

• Sit beside other women if possible.

• Record or take photos discreetly if you feel threatened—these can be used as evidence.

• Use safety apps like Shohoj, Nirapod or Google’s Trusted Contacts.

📞 If Harassed

• Speak out loudly to alert others.

• Report the incident to the driver or helper.

• Call the National Emergency Service (999) or your local police station.

• File a complaint via platforms like the Women and Children Repression Prevention Cell or Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK).

What Needs to Change

Experts say women’s safety cannot be solved by individual action alone. Better lighting at bus stops, CCTV cameras in vehicles, female-only sections, and quick-response units during holidays must be implemented.

Public awareness campaigns, such as “Hold The Bar, Not Her Space,” are helping—but their impact depends on public participation. Training transport workers is a start, but changing social attitudes is a long-term commitment.

As Gitanjali Singh of UN Women rightly puts it, “A gender-equal world is within reach—if we choose it.”

And that choice begins with no longer staying silent. Women must be heard. Men must stand up. And the system must act.

Because every journey should begin with hope, not fear. 

Source: Dhaka Tribune
Photo Credit: Kabiur Rahman Riyad/Unsplash
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