Women’s Safety on Trains Must Be Strengthened

Dear Sir,

The reported rape of a woman passenger aboard the Kurigram Express is deeply disturbing and raises serious concerns about passenger safety on Bangladesh’s railway network.

According to media reports, a 42-year-old woman travelling from Dhaka Cantonment to Parbatipur was reportedly taken to a compartment connected to the train’s food carriage, where she alleged that a food-carriage employee sexually assaulted her. She later contacted the national emergency service 999 for assistance. After the train arrived at Parbatipur, railway police reportedly arrested the accused and rescued the woman.

The incident raises an important question: how safe are passengers, particularly women travelling alone, on our intercity trains?

Bangladesh Railway must strengthen security and monitoring through CCTV surveillance, proper supervision of staff, employee verification, regular patrols and accessible emergency assistance. The allegation must also be investigated fairly and promptly, while protecting the victim’s dignity, privacy and safety and ensuring appropriate support.