Bangladesh launched its pink, women-only bus service, operated by female drivers, on August 18. This is a step forward in addressing women’s safety and mobility. The initiative, however, met with its fair share of misogyny in the form of trolling. Instead of viewing it as an attempt to make public transportation comfortable and safe for women, some dismissed or mocked the idea, making stereotypical comments that women are bad drivers, cannot drive heavy double-decker buses, or that people now need to be more vigilant on the roads. Others joked that an ambulance should accompany the vehicle.
This shows a broader problem: women’s struggles are rarely taken seriously until society is forced to recognise them. Perhaps the next issue Bangladesh needs to address is how menstruation affects women’s lives.
Menstruation, a normal biological process, comes with difficulties that are frequently dismissed as something women should tolerate privately. Cramps, fatigue, headaches, nausea and mood changes can make an ordinary day considerably more difficult. For many women, however, the effects can be debilitating. Conditions such as dysmenorrhea and endometriosis can cause severe pelvic pain and cramping, while heavy menstrual bleeding can cause exhaustion and make routine activities difficult. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), also referred to by some experts as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), can also involve prolonged or irregular periods and, in some cases, heavy bleeding. For people experiencing severe symptoms, standing, walking, concentrating in class or completing a full workday become arduous.
Yet, how often is a student or a jobholder allowed to say, “I am absent because I am experiencing period symptoms making it difficult for me to function,” without being met with embarrassment, ridicule or accusations of exaggeration? This is where menstrual leave deserves serious consideration.
Bangladesh currently has no national law mandating menstrual leave. The Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, does have a specific provision for it. Meanwhile, several countries have already introduced different forms of menstrual leave. Spain recognises severe, disabling menstruation as a specific form of temporary incapacity, with medically certified leave supported through the social security system. Japan has recognised “physiological leave” since 1947, although it does not require employers to pay for it. South Korea provides one day of menstrual leave per month, while Indonesia allows up to two days of paid menstrual leave. Taiwan grants up to three days of menstrual leave per year separately from regular sick leave, and Zambia allows women one day off per month without requiring a doctor’s note. Vietnam also provides menstrual breaks or leave under its labour framework.
The existence of these policies demonstrates that menstruation can be recognised within labour policy instead of being treated as an inconvenience women must privately face. Bangladesh has already seen some promising initiatives from several private companies. The 10 Minute School has introduced 12 days of paid menstrual leave a year for female staff, while Berger Paints Bangladesh has implemented a similar policy. These initiatives demonstrate that period-friendly policies are not impossible to implement in the country. But we still have a long way to go if such provisions are to become accessible across different sectors rather than remaining limited to a handful of progressive organisations.
But menstrual leave should not only be discussed in the context of employment. Educational institutions need to become period-friendly as well. A student suffering from severe menstrual pain should be able to take a day off without feeling embarrassed or guilty. Schools and universities could introduce clear absence policies for severe menstrual symptoms, provide accessible, clean sanitary facilities, allow students to leave classes or examinations when symptoms become difficult to manage, and, where appropriate, provide access to basic menstrual pain relief. Most importantly, women, adolescents, and children as young as 10-11 years should not be made to feel ashamed for experiencing a biological process out of their control.
In workplaces, alongside formal leave policies, employers can provide clean private washroom facilities, flexible working arrangements where feasible, and a workplace culture where employees do not have to feel embarrassed about discussing menstrual needs. Critics may argue that menstrual leave could be unfair to employers or reinforce the stereotype that women are less capable workers. This is why menstrual leave should be mapped out carefully, with safeguards against discrimination, unnecessary disclosure of medical information, and negative consequences for career progression. The goal is not to portray women as inherently less productive, but to recognise that severe menstrual symptoms can temporarily affect a person’s ability to function normally.
And if the reaction to pink buses is anything to go by, menstrual leave is likely to face criticism too, particularly because menstruation remains surrounded by stigma, embarrassment, misinformation and an overall lack of education education about reproductive health. Boys and men should also be educated about menstruation because they work alongside, study alongside and live alongside people who do. Understanding that severe menstrual symptoms can be medically significant can replace ridicule with empathy and help break the barriers of stigma surrounding a normal biological process. Ultimately, the biggest obstacle may not be introducing menstrual leave but convincing a society that shrouds a biological process in stigma and taboo.
We have already recognised that women being unable to travel safely is a problem and have therefore begun experimenting with solutions such as women-only buses. Now we need to recognise that women being expected to attend class or work while experiencing debilitating menstrual symptoms can also be a problem. Creating period-friendly educational institutions and workplaces is not about giving women unnecessary privileges. It is about acknowledging a reality that millions of women experience every month.
The pink bus is a step forward. Menstrual leave should be the next.
Nazifa Tasmim is a BBA student at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB).
Views expressed in this article are the author's own.
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