On the busy streets of Dhaka, a woman behind the wheel still turns heads. The reaction ranges from curiosity to scepticism, revealing a deeper truth: driving remains a gendered activity in Bangladesh. Despite gradual social progress, the belief that ‘women are bad drivers’ persists stubbornly in public discourse.

Such perceptions are rooted in broader patriarchal norms, where mobility itself has historically been restricted for women. Driving, therefore, becomes more than a skill. It becomes an act of resistance. Women who choose to drive are not merely navigating traffic; they are navigating societal expectations that question their presence in public spaces.

Challenges on the road

The challenges faced by women drivers in Bangladesh extend far beyond traffic congestion.

Safety is perhaps the most critical issue shaping women’s driving experiences. While road safety in Bangladesh is a concern for all, women face additional risks linked to gender-based violence and insecurity.

Harassment, both verbal and physical, remains a pressing concern. Female drivers often experience unsolicited comments, staring, and even intimidation while driving.

In many cases, women are subjected to heightened scrutiny. For instance, when minor accidents occur, crowds may demand to see a woman’s driving licence first, reflecting a bias that presumes fault based on gender.

Many female drivers avoid driving alone at night or parking in isolated areas due to fear of harassment or assault. Incidents of attempted intrusion into vehicles, verbal abuse, and mob aggression further heighten this anxiety.

The lack of secure infrastructure, such as well-lit parking spaces and gender-sensitive transport policies, exacerbates these concerns. As a result, some women limit their mobility or avoid using driving as a source of income, even when opportunities exist.

Safety concerns also significantly reduce women’s willingness to participate in ride-sharing or travel at night.

This creates a paradox where driving offers independence, yet the very act of driving exposes women to new forms of vulnerability.

Family resistance further complicates the issue. Many women face discouragement from relatives who perceive driving as unsafe or inappropriate. Combined with weak enforcement of traffic laws, these factors create an environment where women must constantly prove themselves.

Economic reality
For some women, driving is not just about mobility; it is about survival. While driving can open doors for women, the economic reality behind it is often difficult and limiting. In Bangladesh, many women struggle to even begin because the cost of training, licences, and repeated testing is too high, especially for those from low-income backgrounds. Even after learning, entering the profession requires a major financial step: buying a vehicle, which most women cannot afford without loans, and access to credit remains limited.

The challenges do not stop there. Maintaining a vehicle, including fuel, repairs, and daily expenses, adds ongoing pressure, making it hard to sustain a stable income, especially when earnings from driving jobs are not always consistent. Safety concerns also affect income directly; many women avoid higher-paying opportunities such as night shifts or driving long distances due to fear of harassment or unsafe conditions.

The lack of demand for female drivers further reinforces a cycle where fewer women enter the field and the sector remains male-dominated.

For some women, driving is not just about mobility; it is about survival. While driving can open doors for women, the economic reality behind it is often difficult and limiting. In Bangladesh, many women struggle to even begin because the cost of training, licences, and repeated testing is too high, especially for those from low-income backgrounds. Even after learning, entering the profession requires a major financial step: buying a vehicle, which most women cannot afford without loans, and access to credit remains limited.

Personal journeys: Stories of resilience and change
Behind every statistic is a story: a young woman learning to drive despite her family’s hesitation; a mother navigating Dhaka’s traffic to support her children; a professional choosing independence over convenience. Many women describe their first days on the road as intimidating. The aggressive driving culture, combined with public scrutiny, creates an environment where confidence must be built quickly.

Many women hesitate to park in isolated locations, often going out of their way to find busier, more secure areas, even if it means added time, cost, or inconvenience. This constant need to think ahead and prioritise safety over ease turns what should be a routine part of driving into a source of stress. For female drivers, the journey does not end when the car stops; in many cases, that is when their vulnerability feels most heightened.

Tina Tabassum, a primary school English teacher, has been behind the wheel for the past five years and still avoids driving after sunset, even though the roads are calmer and easier to navigate. The few times she tried, the silence of the streets felt heavier than the daytime chaos. Headlights lingered too long in her rear-view mirror, and motorbikes slowed down beside her without reason.

“One car followed me for almost ten minutes,” Tina recalls. “Maybe it was nothing, but I couldn’t stop thinking, what if it wasn’t?” Nothing happened that night. But the fear stayed. Now, she plans her entire day around daylight. “I learned to drive for freedom,” she says quietly, “but it still feels like I have a curfew.”

Maliha Rida, a third-year student studying Supply Chain Management at North South University, learned to drive in secret. Her brothers had laughed at the idea, her relatives calling it ‘unnecessary’ and ‘too bold.’ But she persisted anyway. The first time she drove herself to university, she remembers gripping the wheel and smiling the entire way. “I felt like I had proved something. Not to them, but to myself.”

But when her family found out, the reaction was not what she expected. “No one said ‘well done.’ It was more like… ‘why do you need this?’” She still drives, just a little more quietly now. “I didn’t stop,” she says. “I just stopped telling people.”

Four wheels to freedom

NGO initiatives like BRAC Driving School have played a transformative role in these stories. Launched around 2012 to improve road safety, BRAC Driving School has grown into a powerful platform for women’s economic empowerment. Unlike typical driving schools, it offers intensive residential training (2–3 months) that goes beyond basic driving to include road safety, basic vehicle repair, communication skills, and professional conduct. A key initiative, Four Wheels to Freedom, focuses on bringing women, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, into the profession by providing training, BRTA-approved licences, and job placement support. With thousands of drivers trained, including over 2,600 women, the programme has helped turn driving into a viable career, with graduates working across NGOs, companies, banks, and transport services. Its use of advanced methods like driving simulators, dual-control cars, and digital testing systems ensures trainees are more skilled, confident, and safety-conscious compared to traditional informal learning systems.

Many trainees describe the experience as life-changing. One woman shared that before joining the programme, she had ‘no way to earn’ and depended entirely on her family, but after completing her training, she was able to secure a job and support her household independently. Another graduate explained that driving gave her ‘confidence to move freely’ in a society where women’s mobility is often restricted, adding that earning her own income changed how others perceived and respected her. These stories reflect a broader shift, not just economic but also social, where women begin to reclaim space and agency in their daily lives.

Towards safer and inclusive Roads
Women drivers in Bangladesh stand at the intersection of progress and resistance. Their growing presence signals change, yet their struggles reveal how far society still has to go.

Addressing their challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including stronger law enforcement, improved infrastructure, gender-sensitive policies, and widespread awareness campaigns to dismantle harmful stereotypes.

Ultimately, the road to equality is not just about increasing the number of women drivers; it is about ensuring that they can drive safely, confidently, and without fear. Because when women take the wheel, they are not just driving vehicles, they are driving change.

Maisha Quadery is an A-Level student and an aspiring public health advocate. Reach her at [email protected]

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