When Prime Minister Tarique Rahman recently articulated the vision for a "greener, cleaner Dhaka," the message resonated far beyond the halls of governance and reflected a personal commitment to the fundamental dignity of every citizen.
Known for a mindset that values disciplined, visible progress, and a preference for tangible, grassroots impact that touches the lives of ordinary people, the PM’s vision challenges us to look beneath the aesthetic surface of urban planning.
However, to achieve a truly world-class city, we must address a most fundamental, yet often silenced, human need: Public sanitation.
A city cannot be "clean" if its people are denied the basic dignity of a private space. A city cannot be "green" if its lifelines -- our rivers, canals, and groundwater -- are burdened by the consequences of inadequate infrastructure.
A crisis of dignity
Dhaka is a city of dreams, with nearly four lakh new residents arriving each year in search of a better life. It is a city that never sleeps, powered by the tireless energy of commuters, street vendors, and workers.
Yet, for these millions, the city offers a harsh, daily struggle. Currently, the DNCC manages only 63 public toilets across its vast territory. While other facilities exist, public toilet facilities are often in disrepair, unsafe for women, or fundamentally inaccessible to the elderly and persons with disabilities.
When we speak of a "cleaner Dhaka," we must see it through the eyes of the lakhs of street vendors who have no choice but to use open spaces. We must feel the anxiety of a mother travelling across the city with her child, or a female professional who dehydrates herself all day to avoid the lack of safe facilities.
Providing a clean toilet is not just about hygiene; it is a profound act of social justice and respect.
The missing link in environmental stewardship
The national vision emphasizes sustainability, yet a staggering environmental gap remains hidden beneath our feet. A modern city requires a functional metabolic system -- the ability to process its own waste. Currently, only 20-25% of Dhaka’s population is connected to a formal, conventional sewer network. The remaining waste is often discharged indiscriminately into surface drains and our precious waterbodies.
We cannot speak of a "green Dhaka" while our canals and lakes remain open sewers. The environmental cost of inaction is staggering, leading to groundwater contamination and the destruction of aquatic ecosystems.
The path forward requires a two-fold commitment to infrastructure that respects the laws of nature: Upgrading existing facilities through strict performance-based leasing and modern digital monitoring to ensure they remain clean, functional, and worthy of use.
A call for collective action
The National Public Toilet Policy provides the legal and ethical framework we need to address this. It shifts the perspective of sanitation from a revenue-generating lease to a fundamental civic right.
For too long, public toilets have been viewed by local authorities as sources of income, leading to poor quality control and neglect. It is time to shift this paradigm. Public toilets are an essential public service, as vital as roads or electricity. This is a moment that transcends administrative boundaries. It is about the collective heartbeat of a city that deserves better.
The synergy of governance
The success of the plan hinges on the synergy between Rajuk and the city corporations. Rajuk’s 2025 "Making Dhaka Liveable" study correctly identified WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) as a critical pillar for any future urban development. The DNCC has already done the heavy lifting by identifying the specific locations where interventions are needed most.
Furthermore, we must have more facilities specifically designed for women and girls, with features such as changing stations and menstrual hygiene products. By making the city safe for women to navigate, we unlock the full economic and social potential of half our population.
The economic argument for sanitation
Beyond dignity and the environment, there is a hard economic reality. Poor sanitation leads to waterborne diseases, which cost the national economy billions in healthcare expenses and lost productivity.
Investing in public toilets is, therefore, an investment in the nation’s economic resilience. When people have access to clean facilities, they spend more time in public spaces, support local businesses, and contribute more vibrantly to the urban economy.
To our leaders, urban planners, and fellow citizens: The vision for the future of Bangladesh is not found in high-rises alone, but in the cleanliness of our streets and the safety of our public spaces.
We urge all relevant parties -- from the government to private developers -- to take the following actions immediately:
- Prioritize the WASH Action Plan: Formally integrate the DNCC WASH Action Plan as a non-negotiable pillar of all urban development projects.
- Implement gender-responsive design: Ensure that every new public toilet offers safety, privacy, and hygiene for women and girls.
- Enforce a star rating system: Establish a rigorous quality control mechanism to ensure that every public facility, whether at a fuel station, a park, or a transit hub, meets a standard of excellence.
- Empower local communities: Involve citizens and local vendors in the monitoring and maintenance of these facilities to ensure long-term sustainability.
- Expand FSM coverage: Rapidly increase the capacity for faecal sludge management to ensure that waste is treated and disposed of safely, protecting our waterbodies.
Building the infrastructure of respect
The "greener, cleaner Dhaka" we all crave is not an impossible dream -- it is a choice. It is a choice to prioritize the basic needs of the many over the luxuries of the few.
Let us build a city where no one has to feel the shame of open defecation, where every woman feels safe in public spaces, and where our water bodies can finally breathe again.
Fayazuddin Ahmad is an Advocate and Development Professional.