Online Desk  :   In a step to bolster women’s safety, the Broadcast Journalist Centre (BJC) and Switch Bangladesh Foundation unveiled the ‘HELP’ app—short for Harassment Elimination Literacy Programme—on Saturday, March 15, at The Daily Star Centre in Dhaka. This EU-funded initiative, backed by Free Press Unlimited and Article 19, aims to empower women facing harassment on public transport. Abdullah Al Saleh, director of Solution Spin, the software firm behind the app, explained its core features: “HELP allows smartphone users to report incidents instantly, alerting volunteers and local police with real-time location data via an ‘Alert’ button. Reports are stored for legal action, and users can stay anonymous.”

Initially piloted on Dhaka’s Basila-Sayedabad route, some features will be available nationwide, with plans to integrate with the 999 emergency service later. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali, the event’s chief guest, voiced alarm over rising harassment cases in areas like Magura, Dhaka, and Mohammadpur. “Media reports capture just a fraction of the reality—social and familial pressures silence most victims,” he said. “Domestic workers face abuse too, with 95% of incidents unreported.” He proposed linking the app directly to police stations for instant First Information Reports (FIRs), enabling swift investigations, and pledged DMP support to expand it beyond Dhaka. Ali also urged the media to report sensitively, warning that over-coverage risks fuelling public fear.

Fawzia Moslem, president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, stressed community action: “Rape wounds all of society. This app can help, and we’ll back it. Women must be seen as humans, not just victims, in media narratives.”  Mainul Ahsan Faisal, executive director of Switch Bangladesh, highlighted awareness efforts: “We’re engaging students and installing QR codes in buses on the Basila-Sayedabad route for quick access. Talks with transport owners are ongoing to maximise impact.” BJC Member Secretary Elias Hossain added, “Sexual harassment is surging—we’re not just protesting; we’re solving. HELP is that solution.”  Presided over by BJC Chairman Rezwanul Haque and moderated by Executive Coordinator Shahnaz Sharmeen, the launch underscored a collective resolve. From instant alerts to legal documentation, HELP offers a lifeline—aiming not just to respond to harassment, but to deter it, one ride at a time.