The High Court today directed the authorities concerned to allocate a specific compartment in every passenger-carrying train for female travellers during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha to ensure their security and privacy in line with the relevant legal provisions.

The HC bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Ashif Hasan passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Momtaj Parvin seeking necessary directives on the issue.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Momtaj’s lawyer Ajmol Hossain Khokon said a special compartment for female passengers is mandatory in every passenger train under sections 64 and 119 of the Railway Act, 1890.

However, the provisions have not been implemented, resulting in various difficulties for female passengers travelling by train, he said.

Advocate Momtaj filed the writ petition as a public interest litigation with the High Court on January 13, 2021.

Following the petition, the court on March 9 the same year issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why special compartments should not be allocated for female passengers and separate reserved seats not introduced for children, physically challenged passengers, and senior citizens in every train.

The rule is still pending, the lawyer said.

He added that the petitioner recently submitted a supplementary petition to the original writ petition seeking directives for the government to arrange special compartments for female passengers.

In response to the supplementary petition, the High Court passed today’s order, he added.