The reality of our progress is often obscured by its own glory. For Aisha Begum of Gabura Union in Satkhira, the word 'development' feels like a distant mirage as she begins her two-mile trek at 4:00 AM every morning, pitcher in hand, toward the only pond of salt-free water.
For thousands of women along the coast like Aisha, a single glass of fresh water is not just a means to quench thirst; it is the name of a lifelong struggle.
Meanwhile, for a child in Dhaka’s Korail slum, a clean toilet remains a luxury.
The stark contrast between statistics and real-life experiences should prompt policymakers to act urgently to address inequalities.
The crisis of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is not merely an engineering challenge but a profound humanitarian and political crisis. With the 13th National Parliamentary Elections approaching, the question for political parties is straightforward: Does our definition of development include a commitment to ending the long, arduous walk of women like Aisha Begum?
We often view safe water or sanitation as a “social service” or “aid.” However, global research suggests otherwise. According to the World Health Organization and various international development agencies, every $1 invested in WASH services yields a return of approximately $4.3 to the national economy.
When a family gains access to safe water, they save a significant portion of their monthly income previously spent on treating waterborne diseases. When a worker remains healthy, their productivity increases.
This is not an abstract concept. It is a mathematical certainty. Political parties must, therefore, stop viewing the WASH sector as a mere expense and declare it an “economic engine” in their manifestos.
Addressing budgetary inequality
We must build a foundation that protects the health of every citizen. Currently, WASH budget allocations are often based on political influence or population density rather than actual need.
The cost of creating a water source in a remote village in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is significantly higher than in the plains. Furthermore, the 2025 MICS indicates that women in coastal areas face a higher risk of gestational hypertension due to water salinity.
If budgets are allocated based on standard “plains” metrics, those in the hills and coastal regions will forever be left behind. Priority must be given to crisis-prone areas, such as saline-affected coasts and river-erosion-prone chars. Manifestos must commit to doubling the national budget allocation for this sector over the next five years.
Dignity for women and education
Women constitute half of our population. Yet, our social silence regarding menstrual hygiene is having a devastating impact on our economy.
Research shows that, due to a lack of sanitation facilities and access to sanitary pads, adolescent girls in secondary schools are absent for three to four days per month. Annually, this totals 40-45 days, which accelerates dropout rates.
Ensuring quality menstrual hygiene services for female workers in the garment industry will reduce absenteeism and increase overall national productivity by 5–8%.
Manifestos should include a legal mandate to ensure free or affordable sanitary products in every educational institution and workplace.
Generating employment
Unemployment remains a major challenge in Bangladesh. By declaring WASH an industry, we can create significant employment.
Modern waste management and faecal sludge management (converting waste into fertilizer) are now profitable businesses worldwide. If the government provides incentives for private entrepreneurs to develop local sanitation equipment or water purification technology, thousands of young entrepreneurs will emerge.
Processing plants in places like Nilphamari or Kushtia would enable local youth to secure dignified livelihoods within their communities. This simultaneously protects the environment and strengthens the rural economy.
Climate resilience and sustainability
Bangladesh is on the frontline of climate change. Every year, floods submerge thousands of latrines and contaminate water sources. We no longer need standard tube wells; we need climate-resilient infrastructure.
State investment must increase in salinity-resistant technologies for coastal areas and in rainwater harvesting for drought-prone regions. Political parties should pledge to establish permanent, effective water sources in every disaster-prone area.
Moreover, maintenance is the biggest hurdle: While installing a tube well is easy, keeping it operational is challenging. Local government institutions must be made financially self-sufficient to handle repairs.
A call to action
The government cannot complete this massive task alone. We should mandate that at least 10% of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds from institutions be directed toward the WASH sector.
If a bank or insurance company transforms a specific union into a ‘100% safe water village,’ it reduces the government’s burden by billions. This represents an ideal public-private partnership.
As political parties finalize their manifestos, they must remember that flyovers and grand buildings may be the visible face of development but a safe glass of water and a clean toilet are its invisible lifeblood.
Safe water and hygiene must be a citizen’s primary right, not a colonial-style favour. Only when these proposals are included in the upcoming manifestos will we achieve meaningful development.
Fayazuddin Ahmad is an Advocate and Development Professional.