HC orders BR to dedicate compartment for women 

The High Court on Tuesday ordered the authorities concerned of the government to allot a specific compartment for women passengers on every passenger train during the holy Eid-ul-Azha as per the provisions of the law.

The HC bench comprising Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Asif Hasan passed the order after hearing on a supplementary petition filed in this regard.

Earlier on March 9 in 2021, the HC issued a rule asking the government to explain why the railway authorities should not be directed to arrange separate compartment for women.

It also issued another rule asking the government to explain why seats should not be kept reserved for women, children, physically challenged and senior citizen passengers in trains to ensure their privacy and safety.

The court issued the ruling after holding hearing of a writ petition filed on January 13 in 2021 by Supreme Court lawyer Mamtaz Parvin on public interest.

Ahead of the Eid-ul Azha, the lawyer filed a supplementary petition with the HC seeking its directive on the government to arrange a special compartment for female passengers in every train for ensuring their security and privacy.

Advocate Ajmol Hossain Khokon appeared for the petitioner during the hearing on the petition.

Later, he told reporters that a special compartment for female passengers is supposed to be arranged in every passenger train as per sections 64 and 119 of the Railway Act, 1890. But the provisions of the law were not implemented and therefore female passengers face different problems in the trains, he added.

Commuters said that most buses of the intercity and district areas have between 9 to 12 seats reserved for women, children and the handicapped but there is no enforcement of the allotments as male-passengers occupy the seats.