Source: Kazi Tahsin Agaz Apurbo

This year's May Day has brought with it many reports of progress within our labour force, one being in the area of female empowerment. More and more Bangladeshi women are assuming roles within the workforce that were once predominantly male, not only in the white collar bracket, but in the lower spheres as well. Anowara Begum, who works as a driver at the Gonoshasthya Nagar Hospital, is one of them.
The 49-year-old driver who has been in this profession for the past 17 years, started off working as a mechanic in a small shop in Cox's Bazaar. “I have always wanted to learn how to drive,” says Anowara. “When my sister got me a job as a mechanic at Gonoshasthya Kendra 22 years ago, I asked to be trained as a driver there as well,” she continues.
Anowara Begum was not just encouraged by her parents to take on this non-traditional role, her husband was also quite pleased with her profession. “I have an 11-year-old son and it would have been hard to work a 9-5 job and manage a child as well,” says Anowara. “Luckily for me, my husband was extremely understanding and helpful, and even asked my sister-in-law to live with us and help me out.”
When imagining a woman in a driver's profession, many issues come to mind, such as their safety, their resting place while waiting on duty etc. Anowara Begum says experience has taught her to deal with it all. “I am usually very friendly toward everyone and that helps me get into the good books of local shop keepers who let me use their toilet facilities,” she says. “Some of the women drivers I work with are so shy about this they don't use the toilet all day! And if I have to wait with other male drivers while on duty, I am polite to everyone and they behave respectfully with me,” she smiles. “Most of the time they buy me tea and food too! The traffic police are also very polite and let me go before everyone else, especially when I drive an ambulance.”
Anowara Begum had started out with a Tk600 salary and she now earns Tk 17000 a month, which is more than what the average male driver earns in this country. During her 17 years behind the wheel, Anowara has inspired many women to consider her profession, “Whenever I return to my village to visit, many young girls come to me, asking me to teach them. They all admire me for having the courage to do what I do,” says Anowara.