The alarming statistics emerging from Dhaka, where an estimated 230 tonnes of faecal waste are discharged into open water bodies daily, paint a grim picture of the sanitation crisis facing Bangladesh.
This situation, as our newspaper reported on Wednesday, not only contributes to severe environmental pollution but also poses significant health risks, particularly to vulnerable communities and children.
The recent International Toilet Conference 2025 highlighted the urgent need for robust sanitation management, with UNICEF and WaterAid calling for the integration of sanitation into the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to protect children’s health.
Despite notable progress in reducing open defecation, with Bangladesh achieving results faster than many countries, the devastating impact of climate hazards, such as last year’s historic floods in Feni, threatens to reverse these gains.
Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh, rightly emphasised that children have the right to grow up in a healthy environment, yet the lack of proper sanitation undermines this fundamental right.
The statistics are staggering: over 65 million people in Bangladesh lack access to safely managed sanitation.
This is not merely a statistic; it represents lives at risk, particularly those of women and children who are disproportionately affected. The economic implications are equally concerning, with the cost of using unimproved sanitation facilities estimated at USD 4.2 billion annually—almost 1.5 per cent of the country’s GDP in 2018.
To address this crisis, Bangladesh must foster private-sector partnerships, invest in the WASH sector, and strengthen regulatory mechanisms. Moreover, integrating sanitation into national climate strategies is essential to ensure that climate financing supports the development of resilient sanitation infrastructure.
As we reflect on the discussions from the conference, it is clear that the time for action is now. Every child deserves a toilet to stay in school, every woman deserves safe sanitation for dignity, and every community must manage waste responsibly.
The sanitation crisis in Bangladesh is not just a local issue; it is a global challenge that requires our collective commitment and innovative solutions. Toilets are indeed everyone’s responsibility, and it is time we treat them as such.
