Questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the Integrated Sanitation and Hygiene Project, which is being implemented by the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) in 10 priority towns, including Sirajganj. Allegations have been made that many of the latrines are being constructed without maintaining proper hygiene standards.
Public health experts have expressed concern that the objectives of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)-funded project, involving an estimated Tk 126 crore, may not be fully achieved due to flawed planning and alleged irregularities in implementation by contractors and supervising officials.
According to field observations, in several densely populated towns, latrines under the project have been installed either in front of or very close to bedrooms, kitchens or dining areas of beneficiaries. Health specialists warn that such placement could increase health risks rather than improve sanitation conditions.
There are also concerns that the health risks may intensify over time, as many of the semi-paved latrines are reportedly being constructed with low-quality materials, including thin corrugated tin, wood and substandard fittings, raising questions about their durability.
In many locations, the latrines near living and dining areas are not fully paved and are enclosed with tin fencing, resulting in persistent foul odours. Residents reported that flies are common around these facilities, increasing the risk of the spread of disease.
Sources involved in the project alleged that substandard materials were used in construction and that many works were carried out through unofficial subcontracting. Although main contractors received the work orders, they were often absent from project sites, with work being undertaken by third parties, allegedly leading to inadequate supervision.
In Sirajganj municipal town, construction of 4,000 containment latrines, each with a capacity of 1,000 litres, is underway as part of the project, at an estimated cost of Tk 12.60 crore. The work is being implemented in two phases of 2,000 latrines each. One of the contracting firms involved is GDL–MEA JV. However, no representatives of the firm were found at construction sites during a recent visit.
Officials claimed that around 80 per cent of the first phase had been completed, while the second phase had progressed by about 12 per cent. Despite this, many of the installed tin-shed latrines were found to be located close to bedrooms or kitchens, raising concerns over air quality and hygiene.
Reports from the field indicate the use of below-standard construction materials, including low-grade bricks, low-cost toilet pans, pillars constructed without steel reinforcement, sandy ring slabs and ultra-thin corrugated tin sheets. Residents alleged that some bricks broke during transportation, while fencing pillars were constructed using GI wire instead of steel rods. Ultra-thin tin sheets were reportedly used instead of the specified 170mm gauge, raising concerns about early damage and corrosion.
Several beneficiaries also complained about inadequate quantities of materials used per unit. A recipient in the Mahmudpur area, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that residents had protested against the use of poor-quality bricks, forcing a sub-contractor to remove them from the site. Another beneficiary from the Raipur area alleged that only about 180 low-quality bricks and one bag of cement were used for each latrine, and that fewer steps were constructed than required.
Contacted for comment, Md Rokonuzzaman, Executive Engineer of DPHE in Sirajganj, acknowledged that some discrepancies had occurred and attributed them partly to manpower shortages. He, however, assured that monitoring and supervision would be strengthened in the days to come.
Selim Reza, Sirajganj