In an alarming incident on a Dhaka metro rail, passengers have accused men of sexually harassing women and children in a coach reserved exclusively for females.
The allegations came to light after a post on Facebook by a doctor, Nilufar Parvin Mitu, who shared her experience and the disturbing details of the incident.
Around 4:45 PM on Wednesday, Nilufar Parvin boarded the train at Farmgate station, only to find 10 to 12 male passengers inside the women’s reserved coach.
These men allegedly harassed several women and a child. Nilufar, a doctor, took to Facebook to report the incident, which quickly gained attention from the metro rail authorities, who have since promised to investigate.
Speaking to BDNews24.com, Nilufar explained that shortly after the train departed from Farmgate station, she witnessed a woman, visibly upset and crying, approaching the door of the train.
The woman, accompanied by her child, had apparently been sexually harassed. Nilufar recalled the woman saying,
"She and her daughter were badly abused."
The woman then pointed to the back of the coach, where the group of male passengers were sitting.
Another witness, university student Prova Mahbub, was also present in the same women’s coach. She reported seeing several men on board when the train passed Karwan Bazar.
Prova explained that when the train passed Farmgate station, a girl screamed.
Following the outcry, the girl’s mother approached other passengers and complained about the harassment.
"After the incident, the mother of the child began crying, and everyone demanded that the men get off the coach. From Agargaon, a few men disembarked, and at Mirpur 10 station, the remaining offenders were moved to a different compartment," Prova said.
Nilufar further shared that she and her journalist friend were on the train when the incident occurred.
“When we protested loudly, the man who had harassed the child quickly got off the train. The woman and her daughter then exited at Agargaon station. The heavy crowd made it difficult to collect their contact details or identify them,” Nilufar added.
In response to the allegations, Faruk Ahmed, Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), confirmed that police had been stationed on the metro rail for the past three days to ensure the safety of passengers.
"We are investigating the matter, but the post didn’t specify the station where the incident occurred, which makes it difficult for us to gather all the details. However, if the complainants contact us, we may be able to understand the full situation," Faruk said.
Faruk also acknowledged the seriousness of the incident and emphasized that men are not permitted to board the women-only coaches.
"It’s disappointing that the rules were not followed. Such behavior must be addressed, as we cannot allow people to keep violating the law," he added.
He assured that the police are already on duty and that instructions would be given to ensure male passengers are kept away from the women’s designated coaches.
This incident highlights the need for stricter enforcement of safety rules and regulations on public transportation, especially in a city like Dhaka, where overcrowding is a common issue.
It also raises concerns about the safety and comfort of women and children who rely on metro rail for daily commuting.
The authorities’ response to this matter will likely be closely watched, as metro rail service users demand a safer and more respectful environment.
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