Inauguration ceremony of two newly made public toilets in Dhaka city north took place at 11 am today. Dhaka North City Corporation- DNCC’s Honorable Mayor Mr. Annisul Huq graced the event as the Chief Guest.This is in continuation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed among Dhaka South City Corporation, Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka WASA & Water Aid Bangladesh to ensure health care by the proper use of public toilets. H&M 
Conscious Foundation and WaterAid Bangladesh are providing financial and technical assistance to this.
These visually stunning, female and disable friendly public toilets are in city’s busiest place Tejgaon Satrasta T&T Gate and Hazi Moron Ali Road,equipped with facilities like; separate chamber for male and female, locker, hand washing, shower and safe drinking water facility, 24×7 electricity and cctv camera, professional cleaner and female caretakers.
Johan Frisell, Ambassador, Embassy of Sweden, Taksim A Khan, Managing Director, Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA), Mr. MD. Mesbahul Islam, Chief Executive Officer, Dhaka North City Corporation, Therese Mahon, Head of Region, WaterAid, Dr. Md. Khairul Islam, Country Representative, WaterAid Bangladesh and Mr. Sofi Ulla, Councilor, 24 no. ward of DNCC were present in the event.
Honorable Mayor Mr. Annisul Huq said, in total 4 modern toilets have already been built and another 14 are under construction. We have planned to build some 100 toilets across the city.
Johan Frisell, Ambassador, Embassy of Sweden got attraction due to his bilingual speech. He said, such type of toilets is needed in order to ensure public heath, gender equity, women safety and beautification of the city.”
Taksim A Khan, Managing Director, Dhaka Wasa said, experience from Gabtali public toilet indicates it will be very useful and sustainable system. We just have to ensure its proper management and WaterAid sustainable business model needs to be replicated in the future project.”
Therese Mahon, Head of Region, WaterAid said, “Safe and arranged toilets are being constructed. The community have to come forward over its maintenance.”
Dr. Md. Khairul Islam, Country Representative, WaterAid Bangladesh said, “City Corporation, Water Aid and H&M Foundation have jointly brought the facility for the commuters. The maintenance will be ensured under the public leaders.”
Speakers in the event have expressed concern over the public sanitation system in the city, especially for the commuters. They have urged to construct proper sanitation facilities, primarily, toilets of safe and hygiene condition for women. Through this establishment WaterAid expects to stimulate the urban norms for rigorous improvement in the sanitation environment.
A study on the public toilets in Dhaka City commissioned by WaterAid in 2011 revealed that, out of 47 public toilets more than half of them are not in minimum serviceable condition and they don’t have women & child friendly facilities. Water supply in the fresh rooms is in acute condition. The scenario reflects alarming and hazardous environmental health of the city.
