The High Court has directed authorities to ensure that every passenger train includes a special coach for women during the upcoming Eid‑ul‑Azha, reinforcing legal provisions meant to guarantee female passengers’ safety and privacy.
The order was issued by the bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Asif Hasan after hearing a supplementary petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Momtaj Parvin.
Advocate Md Ajmal Hossain Khokon, representing the petitioner, told the court that under sections 64 and 119 of the Railway Act, 1890, a separate compartment for women is mandatory on all passenger trains. However, he argued that the rule has not been properly implemented, causing ongoing difficulties for female travellers.
Parvin originally filed the public interest litigation (PIL) on 13 January 2021. Following that petition, the court issued a rule on 9 March 2021, asking authorities to explain why:
Separate women’s compartments should not be allocated on all trains
Reserved seats should not be introduced for children, persons with disabilities and senior citizens
The latest directive requires railway authorities to implement the women’s coach arrangement specifically for the Eid travel rush, when trains are typically overcrowded.
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