A two-minute video circulating on social media sites has captured a novel and effective way to get public urination, the scourge of Dhaka city, to stop.
Using an intervention that relies on psychology, illiteracy and religious devotion, the Ministry of Religious Affairs is using a sense of the sacred to get people to stop dirtying the streets and footpaths.
By simply replacing Bangla script with Arabic lettering on signs prohibiting public urination, young men are being deterred from soiling public spaces – because of their fear the Arabic lettering may be of religious texts.
Being a largely Muslim nation, Arabic is a sacred language for most people, even though few actually understand it.
As the video’s narrator puts it: “Same message, holier language.”
The video captures the effect, on men about to relieve themselves against a wall, of seeing Arabic letters painted on it. Every one of them is shamed into zipping up and zipping off.
The ministry’s programme is predicated on the idea that in a city of 10,000 mosques – each equipped with toilet facilities – there is no justification for urination or defecation in public spaces.
Matiur Rahman, the religious affairs minister, is recorded on the video as saying: “I am thinking of urging every mosque to open its toilets half an hour before namaz.”
Despite initial successes with the Arabic signage on six Dhaka city walls, some walls were defaced after locals realised the writing was not sacred verse.
Nevertheless, more walls will be adorned with the Arabic public service announcements, officials said.
Produced by advertising firm Grey, the video was launched on May 1.
