Open defecation up in BD: BBS
Staff Reporter :
Open defecation has surged in Bangladesh due to a dire shortage of toilets, as revealed in a recent report by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics’ Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics 2023.
Public health experts are deeply concerned, warning of the grave implications for public health nationwide, as this behavior significantly heightens the risk of various illnesses among the populace.
According to the report, approximately 0.94 percent of families are now engaging in open defecation, a notable increase from 0.77 percent recorded in 2022.
Professor Dr. M. Muzaherul Huq, former Adviser of the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasized the alarming consequences of this trend, stating, “As the number of people engaging in open defecation rises, diseases such as dysentery, typhoid, and gastrointestinal ailments will proliferate.”
He further warned of the inevitable escalation in medical expenses across all income brackets, citing the already high out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures in Bangladesh compared to neighboring countries.
The BBS data reveals that out of the country’s 382,940,131 families, approximately 359,964 families have resorted to open defecation due to the lack of adequate toilet facilities.
This figure translates to over 1.5 million individuals who are forced to use alternative, unsanitary means for their personal hygiene needs.
The concerning increase in open defecation underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the sanitation crisis in Bangladesh, safeguarding public health and promoting dignity and well-being for all citizens.
The average family size being 4.26, it’s alarming that over 1.5 million people in Bangladesh now resort to open defecation, utilizing forests, rivers, canals, and open areas for this purpose.
The report highlights a concerning increase of approximately 300,000 individuals engaging in open defecation within a year. Despite the rate remaining below one percent, indicating stability, the actual number of people resorting to open defecation has risen.
Alamgir Hossain, Director of the Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics 2023, pointed out the inability of the BBS to explain this increase, suggesting that relevant departments should address this concern.
The BBS data also reveals disparities in toilet facilities, with 69.68 percent of families having sufficient sanitary latrines, while 23.95 percent have limited fundamental facilities, and 5.43 percent have poor fundamental facilities, leaving a portion of the population to resort to open defecation.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize the importance of safe water and sanitation facilities for all, categorizing toilet facilities into five types, including safely managed, fundamental, limited fundamental, and poor facilities.
Goal six of the SDGs prioritizes safe water and sanitation facilities for everyone, underscoring the need to address the sanitation crisis to achieve universal access to proper sanitation and hygiene facilities.
While the global trend shows a reduction in open defecation, India has faced significant challenges in this regard, with open defecation being notably prevalent, famously leading to the India railway being referred to as the largest open toilet in the world.
In comparison, Bangladesh has historically had lower rates of open defecation. However, the concerning development is the recent increase in the number of people resorting to open defecation in Bangladesh.
This trend warrants attention and concerted efforts to address the underlying issues to prevent a further escalation of the problem.
