230 tonnes of faecal waste dumped in Dhaka daily

Around 230 tonnes of faecal waste are dumped into open water bodies in Dhaka every day, contributing significantly to environmental pollution and posing serious health risks, particularly to vulnerable communities, said Unicef and WaterAid, at the International Toilet Conference 2025 held in Dhaka yesterday.

The two organisations also revealed that over 65 million people -- more than a third of Bangladesh's population -- still lack access to safely managed sanitation services, they said in a press release.

The conference, organised in partnership with SNV and ITN-BUET, underscored the pressing need for urgent advancements in sanitation and hygiene practices.

Rana Flowers, Unicef Representative in Bangladesh, said, "Last year, we witnessed how climate hazards, such as the unprecedented floods in Feni, can undo progress for children, destroying infrastructure and leaving them vulnerable."

She said to improve sanitation for marginalised groups, including women and children, Bangladesh must foster private-sector partnerships, invest in the WASH sector, and strengthen regulatory mechanisms to ensure sustainable, quality services while reducing contamination and reliance on groundwater.

Sanitation services in Bangladesh remain fragile, exacerbated by climate change, including flooding and extreme weather events. In regions like Feni, which had not experienced such disasters in over 50 years, these hazards have devastated infrastructure and water resources, particularly affecting rural and coastal communities.

Hasin Jahan, country director of WaterAid Bangladesh, said the conference is a call to action to challenge outdated practices, embrace innovative solutions, and recognise sanitation as fundamental to human rights, environmental sustainability, and economic growth.

The economic cost of inadequate sanitation is estimated at USD 4.2 billion annually, nearly 1.5% of Bangladesh's GDP. Achieving SDG sanitation targets will require an eight-fold acceleration, as per a 2022 Unicef and WHO report.

                  The conference was attended by government officials, policymakers, technical experts, donors, academics, civil society organisations, and WASH professionals.