Before most of us even open our eyes, a quiet army is already at work on the streets of Dhaka and other cities. Brooms in hand, buckets in tow, they sweep garbage, unclog drains, and do the work that keeps our cities a little more livable. They touch what we avoid. They labor so millions can live a bit more comfortably, yet for the most part, they remain invisible. While we sip our tea, commute to work, or send our children off to school, they risk their health so our daily lives can continue smoothly.
Bangladesh has nearly 5–6 million sanitation and waste-collection workers, many from marginalized communities historically labeled as “untouchable.” Discrimination in jobs, education, and healthcare has followed them for generations. For most, sanitation work isn’t a choice, it’s a role passed down from parents to children. They clean the streets and drains we take for granted, yet society rarely pauses to recognize their courage and hard work.
Their work is dangerous. Every day, they face risky environments without proper protection. As per a report published on Research Gate on the Health Challenges Among Waste Collectors in Bangladesh; 60% have no masks, 71% no gloves, and 75% no boots. They deal with raw sewage and toxic gases that put them at risk of cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis. And when they return home, safety is still scarce: over 65% live in unhealthy housing, 81% lack regular access to clean water, and 58% have no proper sanitation facilities. But these dangers are not unsolvable. With proper protective gear, training, and regular health checkups, workers can stay safe. Better housing, water, and sanitation can give their families a healthier life. And affordable health insurance or protection schemes can ease the financial burden of medical costs.
Private-sector partnerships can play a big role but only if done right. Corporates bring money, innovation, and long-term commitment, but their efforts succeed only when built with the people who understand life on the ground. Engaging sanitation workers, listening to community leaders, and co-designing solutions from the start ensures that support is not just well-intentioned, but truly meaningful. When done thoughtfully, CSR isn’t just a logo on a banner, it becomes a force for safer working conditions, better healthcare and stronger social safety nets.
A perfect example is the ongoing initiative by Harpic, in collaboration with SAJIDA Foundation working on the ground. Last year, on World Toilet Day, they provided healthcare cards and hygiene education to 1,000 sanitation workers and their families, giving access to discounted healthcare at over 250 hospitals. Children received “Dipu–Tushi’s Hygiene Adventure,” a comic book and animated series teaching hygiene, toilet cleanliness, and healthy habits; lessons many parents never had the chance to learn. For these families, recognition, hope, and dignity began to shine through.
This year, the program expanded, reaching an additional 2,000 sanitation workers and their families. Experts, officials, NGOs, and corporate leaders came together to discuss sanitation as a public health priority, emphasizing the power of collaboration between the public and private sectors. New chapters of the “Dipu–Tushi” comic and animated series will now reach children across the country, ensuring that hygiene education continues for the next generation.
Ultimately, the path to real change lies in collaboration. When governments, communities, development workers, and responsible corporates unite with shared purpose, the invisible can finally be seen, and the unheard can finally be included. CSR doesn’t have to be just a logo on a banner or a one-day event, it can be a force that builds a better Bangladesh.
The writer is a consultant at an NGO in Bangladesh
