Bangladesh Makes Strides in Sanitation, More Investment Needed,

Review Finds

A recent review of Bangladesh's progress in implementing the commitments of the

7th South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN) highlighted both successes
and challenges in the country's sanitation efforts. The good news: Bangladesh has
achieved significant progress in open defecation reduction, policy formulation, and
data collection on sanitation. However, the review also found that challenges remain
in sanitation, particularly in remote areas and with regards to building a safely
managed sanitation.
On 28 February 2024, the review meeting was organized by the Freshwater Action
Network South Asia (FANSA)-Bangladesh Secretariat SKS Foundation and brought
together WASH specialists and representatives from FANSA-BD member
organizations. Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, Professor, Civil Engineering Dept. & Director, ITN-
BUET presented the sanitation status in line with 7 th SACOSAN Commitments while
Engr. Tushar Mohon Shadhu Khan, Additional Chief Engineer (Planning),
Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) graced the Webinar as the Guest
of Honor.

Uneven Budget Allocation Highlighted

The review noted that 79% of the WASH budget is allocated to urban areas, while
only 21% goes to rural areas. Despite the fact, rural areas have played a larger role
in the overall progress of the sanitation system. Experts pointed out that more
extensive investment is needed to achieve the SDGs.

Collaboration Needed to Address Challenges

Speakers at the review meeting, including Tushar Mohon Shadhu Khan emphasized
the importance of continued collaboration between the government and private
sector to address these challenges. Mr. Khan noted the progress made thus far is a
result of such collaboration and called for further public-private partnerships to
improve the sanitation.

Focus on Water, Sanitation Advocacy

WASH experts also stressed the need to raise awareness and establish the
importance of sanitation at both the local and national levels. This will help ensure
that water and sanitation issues receive the priority they deserve in Bangladesh's
development agenda.

Bangladesh has some significant achievements while also there are some important
areas to be addressed.
Commitment: 1
Establish baselines and WASH Targets for SDG-6.1 (Drinking Water) & 6.2
(Sanitation & Hygiene) including the elimination of open defecation and progress
towards universal basic and safely managed sanitation services and hygiene. All
countries in the region should review and align their national and sub-national
policies/strategies with safely managed sanitation services and hygiene as outlined
in SDGs.
 MICS (Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey), which is used to track progress
toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is established. And
regular assessment of WASH targets for SDG 6.1 and 6.2 are done.
 In Bangladesh’s Sanitation Landscape, the sanitation coverage consists of
31% safely managed, 28% basic, 26% unimproved facilities, and 15% open
defecation to which tea garden, hilly areas and during disaster are
contributing. The Sanitation Landscape shows a significant portion of the
population (54%) still lacks access to safely managed sanitation. Basic
Sanitation is increased gradually, and small progress in Safely Managed
Sanitation in which most contribution from rural sanitation. However, the Fecal
Sludge Management (FSM) remains challenge in Bangladesh and most
development schemes have not materialized yet.
 All the Water, Sanitation & Hygiene related policies &strategies with SDG-6
and COVID-19 pandemic are updated or being updated (pro-poor strategy
2020, national strategy for Water and Sanitation 2021 etc)
Commitment: 2
Streamline and align the data collection tools, processes, and approaches of key
national and subnational surveys so that they track progress on WASH-related
SDGs.
 SDGs tracker has been developed and WASH-related SDGs data are being
collected and monitored via this tracker.
 Bangladesh one of the 2 countries in the world reporting MHM data for the
first time.
 SDG tracker collects data from various Ministries and agencies.
 A2i is working on developing a framework for tracking and harmonizing
sanitation related data from different stakeholders and implementing
agencies.
 Data accuracy, authenticity needs to be verified.
 How to use the national sanitation dashboard in tracking SDG 6.2 progress.

Commitment: 3
To ensure no one is left behind by; generating evidence to understand inequalities in
access to WASH especially around geographical areas, venerable groups, and
income levels; improved the targeting of those least served, strengthening
participation and accountability in collaboration with sector partners.
 Pro-poor strategy has ensured that the hardcore poor are entitled to 100%
subsidy for water and sanitation services, criteria for identifying the hardcore
poor.
 Policies are being aligned so that no one is left behind.
 Reality: 79% of funds for WASH are allocated for urban areas and only 21%
in rural areas.
 The hardcore poor are entitled to 100% subsidy for water and sanitation
services: Evidence generation is required.
 The yearly budget has to be framed in consultation with the people of the
union and also shared openly with all (according to LG Act 2009)
 The process needs to be strengthened to produce the outcome it envisioned.
 Bangladesh, being a part of Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) has signed up
to the mutual accountability mechanism and both the government and CSOs
have made commitments, which are being monitored in terms of progress.
 NGOs and private sectors engaged in FSM service delivery; there is
considerable scope for private sector participation.

Commitment: 4
Conduct structured human resource capacity assessment followed by a roadmap for
human resource development for public sector, civil society, service providers, and
other stakeholders engaged in WASH.
 Only 14% countries reported having sufficient supply of trained professionals
to meet the need for One-site Sanitation System (OSS) management, Places
where underground sewage systems are not possible, containment structures
like septic tank or twin-pit are used to collect the human waste. Since these
containment structures are located near to the toilets, these are called on-site
sanitation systems.
 DPHE has invested in developing its capacity for FSM services and has
established a Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) FSM support cell.
 The capacity of the local government institutions and their staff to support
WASH activities at the grassroots level needs to be improved.

Commitment: 5
Introduce essential sectorial reforms based on comprehensive legislative reviews
with a specific focus on regulatory frameworks and institutional arrangements
including enhanced inter-ministerial coordination for quality sanitation and hygiene
services.
 National strategy for water supply and sanitation 2021.
 Pro-Poor Strategy for Water and Sanitation Sector 2020.
 National Menstrual Hygiene Management Strategy 2021.
 National Policy for Safe Water Supply and Sanitation 1998 – Revision
ongoing.
 National Policy for Public Toilet Construction.
 Sector Development Plan 2025 - 2040. -Under development.
 National Action Plan (NAP) for implementation of IRF.
 Institutional and Regulatory Framework for FSM.

Commitment: 6
Develop effective financial planning and reporting on sanitation and hygiene-related
investments to achieve SDGs related targets by strengthening the tracking and monitoring
processes.
 WASH Budget has increased ~3 times since the MDG era.
 To meet the SDG target additional financing of Taka 81.25 billion would be needed in
FY 2020, Taka 69.48 billion would be needed in FY2025 and in FY 2030, Taka 58.30
billion would be needed.
 Expenditure tracking is also important.
 Capacity enhancement for mobilizing funds in a timely manner.

Commitment: 7
Develop national and sub-national advocacy plans, strategies, and campaigns that promote
use and sustainability of sanitation services as social norms with the active engagement of
all.
 GoB, NGOs and INGOs, DPs are playing a vital role in Bangladesh.
 Not slipping from ODF status shows the resilience of sanitation services.
 Grassroots sensitizing and awareness had a positive impact.
 October is celebrated as ‘Sanitation Month’
 COVID-19 Pandemic and the added impetus on handwashing.
 Global Handwashing Day is also celebrated at various levels.

Commitment: 8
Prioritize WASH in institutional settings especially accessible wash in schools, health care
facilities, and public places including sensitization and provision for menstrual hygiene and
management.
  GoB, NGOs and INGOs have taken various programs to support WASH in Schools.
WASH in Healthcare Facilities (HCF) e.g. WASH FIT) and Sensitization of Menstrual
Hygiene Management (MHM).
 The ‘WASH in Schools’ has promoted separate toilets for girls & boys.
 ‘Pubic Toilet’ is getting more attraction at the policy-making level.
 Operations & Maintenance (O&M of WASH facilities is also getting priority.

Commitment: 9
Collaborate to strengthen knowledge management and learning on sanitation and hygiene at
regional, national and sub-national levels through training centers and networks.
 At the national level, ITN-BUET is playing a central role as a depositary of knowledge
and learning.
 DPHE and other government institutions should play a more proactive role in
aggregating knowledge and learning products.

Commitment: 10
Support climate change adaptation and explore financing to promote climate-resilient
sanitation and hygiene technologies in and behaviors in general and in at-risk communities
in particular.
 NGOs are playing a vital role in adaptation to climate change in sanitation through
innovative technologies.
 Climate change Trust Fund.
 There is a need for investing in developing context-specific technologies.

Final Words
 Conventional mindset of dealing with solid waste management has exacerbated
our problems (patchy solutions, no comprehensive plans at the local or national level)
 Lengthy deliberations for large-scale investments have prevented us from
looking at localized solutions.
 Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules 2021 has given us a pathway for
addressing SWM in a rational way, but limitations remain in technical and financial
capacity.
 The Government is leveraging investments from development partners to build
SWM infrastructures at the municipal level.
 Tools for data-driven decision-making now available