The Finance Division allocated the funds on 29 October.
Representational Image. Photo: Collected
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Representational Image. Photo: Collected
The government has begun the process of procuring 100 electric buses for women, with Tk400 crore allocated for the purchase, charging stations and related infrastructure.
The buses are expected to be handed over to the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) by 25 February next year.
The Finance Division allocated the funds on 29 October. Subsequently, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges asked the BRTC chairman to take steps to transfer the money to the corporation’s Public Ledger (PL) account.
The instruction was issued in a letter signed by Ajit Deb, deputy secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division’s BRTC branch, on Monday.
Infographic: TBS
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Infographic: TBS
BRTC Chairman Mir Ahmed Tariqul Omar told TBS on Thursday that the corporation had assigned state-owned automobile assembling and manufacturing company Pragoti Industries to procure the buses under the Direct Procurement Method (DPM).
“Pragoti Industries has already held preliminary discussions with international suppliers regarding the purchase of the buses. Tenders will be issued to suppliers on 18 November, and the final purchase order will be given on 22 November. The proposal for approval from the Cabinet
Committee on Government Purchase will be sent on 23 or 24 November,” he said.
He said BRTC hoped to receive the buses before 25 February next year.
Procurement without open tender
The buses are being procured under the DPM from Pragoti Industries, with the aim of introducing eco-friendly transport for women as quickly as possible.
Pragoti has held discussions with several Chinese companies, said a senior official of the company, speaking on condition of anonymity. He said the buses would be purchased from China.
On 6 August, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave in-principle approval to procure 200 electric buses, charging stations and related infrastructure for BRTC without an open tender.
The Tk800 crore project is being implemented in two phases. The first phase, involving Tk400 crore, will cover the purchase of 100 buses exclusively for women.
Pink Bus service struggles with low passenger numbers
The initiative follows the government’s plan to introduce electric buses for women in major cities, fulfilling a BNP election pledge.
After taking office, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met transport expert Md Shamsul Hoque on 2 March and expressed interest in launching the service in Dhaka within 180 days.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam inaugurated the Women’s Bus Service, or Pink Bus, on a trial basis at BRTC’s Tejgaon depot on 18 August.
The service began operating on 13 routes across Dhaka, Chattogram and Bogura with 14 buses, staffed by female drivers and conductors.
Services beyond Dhaka
According to BRTC sources, the addition of 100 electric buses will help expand the service to other divisions beyond the capital.
However, the existing Pink Bus service is struggling to attract passengers. BRTC officials said the buses generally make two trips a day, morning and afternoon, but rarely fill all their seats. Even on additional trips, passenger numbers typically remain at seven to eight.
BRTC Chairman Mir Ahmed Tariqul Omar said many women travel with male family members who cannot use the women-only service.
“BRTC has sent a proposal to the Road Transport and Highways Division to consider allowing male companions aged up to 16, or those no older than SSC examinees, to travel on Pink Buses,” he said.
He said there had also been proposals to reserve some seats for male passengers. BRTC plans to conduct a social survey to assess these suggestions.
“The special bus service for women was launched in line with the government’s decision and will be fully implemented. Cost recovery and revenue generation are not considerations for BRTC,” he added.
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