Access to Safe Water and Sanitation in Bangladesh

Project Overview

The Water and Sanitation initiative aims to directly improve access to improved sanitation, better hygiene and safe water services on a sustainable basis for 1000 households (5,000 marginalized slum dwellers) of Kalshi Balur Math and Kurmitola Relief Camp slum of the Mirpur area of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The overarching goal contributes towards achieving Millennium Development Goals #1 and #7, by reducing poverty in the peri-urban setting of Dhaka and by halving the proportion of Bangladeshis without access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation.

This project emphasizes installation of water points and hygienic latrines, as well as hygiene awareness sessions.

Recent Project Activities and Results 

Installation of water points and sanitary latrines: Infrastructure construction has begun, with a thorough cleaning effort at the point of construction, and removal of unhygiencic latrines. While construction is underway, the water connection will be ensured legally from teh Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (DWASA). The construction work is being managed and implemented by the community, through the formation of a Community-Based Organization (CBO). The CBO is now in full command of the construction efforts, and an agreement has been signed between CARE Bangladesh and the CBO.

Video documentation: CARE Bangladesh has filmed a video to give a sense of "before" and "after" efforts in the community.

CBO Capacity Building: CARE has worked with the CBOs to outline WASH objectives and ensure sustainable management of water sanitation facilities. (All water and sanitation services provided to participation will be ensured by the CBOs. Four trainings have been conducted for CBOs, with 130 participants participating.

Successes and Challenges

 Key Results:

• Hygiene sessions have been conducted for different groups (children, adolescents, etc.) successfully.
• Adolescent girls are more open to share their problems, not only related to water/sanitation, but also the social problems they face on a daily basis.
• 108 children now know about handwashing and its importance.

Lessons Learned: 

• The adolescent girls have a platform through the hygiene promotion activities where they can share their problems, get solutions and express their goals. They are motivated and involved, and have taken ownership of their group.
• Community people are aware about the importance of safe drinking water and sanitary latrines; however, the lack of physical facilities has hampered a full-scale change in behavior.

Next Steps

• Construction of 2 water points, 4 community latrines and 2 main drains will be completed.
• The legal contract with the DHAKA WASA will be completed. 
• Hygiene promotion sessions with rest of the community people will be completed.
• CARE Bangladesh will share with other relevant stakeholders the significance of support from ABC News and its viewers.
• A documentary on the slums will be completed.