Bhabna Akhter has been working as a bus driver's assistant for four years

 

Those who have boarded the privately launched Dolan Champa bus for female passengers in the country must know Bhabna. Recently one afternoon Dolan Champa was sitting on the bus talking to Bhabna Akhter. In between work, he told the story of his life.

Asked about her experience working as a bus driver's assistant as a woman, Bhabna said, But I bus driver's assistant, I do not do bad things. There was never any hindrance from the husband or the family.'

In June 2018, the Dolan Champa bus service was launched from Mirpur 12 to Motijheel. The 36-seater service was launched by a joint venture of Bangladesh's Rangs Group and Indian Volvo Eicher Vehicles Limited.

.Many people smile when they see the bus gate on the street and call it a female bus driver's assistant. But I bus driver's assistant the bus, I do not do bad things. There has never been any obstacle from husband or family. Bhabna Akhter, bus driver's assistant

There were only a few passengers on the bus around noon. Bhabna was reminding the driver to stop the car before the passengers came to a stop. He was also helping the female passengers to get on or off the bus.

Several rupees with a 100 rupees note in Bhabna's hand. He smiled nicely and asked the passengers for a fare. He said the fare from Mirpur 12 to Motijheel is Rs 30. The fare is determined according to the stoppage of the passenger.

Wearing a red scarf and pajamas with a yellow shirt. Bhabna was warning passengers at Farmgate, Karwan Bazar. A headscarf, a mask on the face, and two thin bangles with almost burning color in both hands to say makeup. A brass ring on the finger. Many of the long-known passengers call Bhabna by name and many also say, Apa.

The husband does not object to the work. It doesn't even say anything about spending a month's salary. Poor people, two people have to run the family with money. So let's go.

Bhabna got the opportunity to study till the 8th class. Before that, he worked as a salesman in a store. He said the shop work in the market was relatively easy, but there was a lot of time to spend. When the market was closed, it would take many nights to return home. As a result, he could not do the work of the world. And now the work is difficult, hard, but there is respect. There is a lot of time available. Friday and Saturday are two days off as well as various government days off. If you are on duty in the morning, you can return home by 2 PM and if you are on duty in the afternoon, you can return home by 8 PM. There is no fear of deducting salary even if you are absent from work due to illness or any other reason. At present, his salary is 10,500 rupees. Although the bus service has been closed for a long time since the beginning of Corona, Bhabna received his monthly salary, there was no problem with the salary. Bhabna Akhter is on duty one week in the morning and one week in the afternoon. She lives with her husband in Khilkhet, the capital. A six-year-old girl lives with her mother-in-law in the village. Bhabna said, the husband said. Jahedul Islam works as a day laborer. If you work, you get 450 rupees, and if you don't work, you don't get any money. The two liked each other, later they got married as a family. The age of marriage is 11 years.

Asked if the husband objected to the work, Bhabna said, "The husband does not object to the work. It doesn't even say anything about spending a month's salary. Poor people, two people have to run the family with money. So let's go. '

.Asked how he spends his salary, Bhabna laughed and replied, "How can the money be spent in a poor family." Bhabna has so far made a gold chain for herself. Bought household chores. Apart from this, Bhabna sent six thousand rupees for house rent and two and a half thousand rupees for her daughter. Then with what they have, they have their food and other expenses.

.At one stage of the work, there is no one except the bus driver and Bhabna. Asked if the fear of an accident would work, Bhabna said the bus had four CCTV cameras installed. And besides her, other female bus driver's assistants have brother-sister relationships with the drivers. So far no accident has occurred. And even if it does, the company will take responsibility.

From Khilkhet it is Mirpur 12 if you are on duty in the morning, at Motijheel if you are on duty in the afternoon and you can also take the Bhabna bus on your way home. Asked about the experience of traveling on another bus, Bhabna said, "Men and women are being bullied, male bus driver's assistants are being abused — all of which women have to endure."

.Regarding the need for separate buses for women, Bhabna said that the number of female passengers increases during office hours in the morning and afternoon. Children up to the age of 9 can travel by bus with women. In addition, if the female passenger has a disabled child, special consideration is given. However, male relatives who are with women in any way can not get on the bus. Even if women are pushed on the bus, it is with women, not with any man, so there is no need to fall into an embarrassing situation. Women passengers said to increase the number of such buses. Many times female passengers do not see the Dolanchampa bus, Bhabna, 28, said in response to the allegation that the bus runs in line with office hours. There are specific stops and times. So if you don't come at that time, you can't be seen.

Faria Rasool, Dolan Champa co-ordinator of Rangs Group, said the Dolan Champa service was started from a place of social responsibility. It was never thought to be a lucrative business, nor would it be run if the group was not profitable. Two of the four buses were shut down due to a lack of passengers in Corona. As a result, the number of female bus assistant assistants has come down from eight to four. If the situation is normal, the bus will start again, the bus driver's assistant will return to work. At present two buses are making four trips to Motijheel via Mirpur 12, Mirpur 11, Mirpur 10, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar. In each bus, two female bus drivers are working as assistants in two shifts. These women are also getting six months of maternity leave with pay. Faria Rasool added that there is a Dolan Champa app for female passengers. By downloading the app from the Play Store, passengers can find out how far the bus is or all other information. And whether the driver, passenger, or any other problem is happening in the bus, it is being monitored while sitting in the Rangs building.