State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has highlighted Bangladesh's recently launched women-only Pink Bus Service at a UN roundtable, citing it as a practical measure to make public transport safer for women.

She referred to the public transit initiative while addressing a ministerial roundtable on technology-facilitated violence against women and girls at UN headquarters in New York on September 23, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.

During her address, Shama outlined Bangladesh's legal and institutional steps to combat violence against women and girls, detailing measures such as expedited investigations and judicial proceedings, legal aid access, safe shelter provisions, rehabilitation and psychosocial support.

She also described the Dhaka Dialogue, a Bangladesh-led initiative focused on formulating voluntary guidelines to prevent, investigate, and address digital harassment while extending an invitation to UN member states to join its Group of Friends.

Turning to women impacted by armed conflict, Shama highlighted Bangladesh's ongoing contributions to UN peacekeeping operations as well as its humanitarian assistance for Rohingya women and girls taking shelter in the country.

Convened by Croatia alongside UN Women on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, the roundtable examined emerging digital threats targeting women and girls, including harassment, defamation, online impersonation, and abuse facilitated by artificial intelligence.