They said women who play managerial role in domestic life and are major users of water, need to be trained to utilise the technology.

The workshop titled 'Gender and technology in drinking water, sanitation and hygiene' was organised jointly by Global Applied Research Network, South Asia (GARNET-SA), Environment and Population Research Centre (EPRC) and World Bank (WB) Dhaka office at the LGED conference room in the city.

HS Mozaddad Faruq, director general of Water Resources Planning Organisation, said access to safe water and sanitation is a basic human right.

He called for need-based training for women both at urban slums and rural areas to use technology for getting hygienic water.

Abdul Bari, chief engineer of public health engineering department, called for raising awareness to ensure maximum use of technology for safe drinking water.

He said the present coverage of sanitation in the country is 50 percent and by the end of the year the coverage will be increased to 80 percent.

Hedayetullah Al-Mamoon, managing director of Dhaka Wasa, called for raising tariff in selling water to help provide technology.

The speakers emphasised the utilisation of country's own resources for technology, rather than waiting for donors' assistance.

They also called for raising awareness among people for harvesting rainwater as source of hygienic water.

Talking to The Daily Star, Dr Bilqis Amin Hoque, coordinator of GARNET-SA and chairperson of EPRC, said, "National policy relating to water, sanitation and arsenic should be formulated in such a way as to empower women at all levels in using technology."

SM Zahirul Islam, secretary to Local Government Division, addressed the function as chief guest.

Experts from home and abroad also spoke on the occasion.