Despite significant progress in improving access to clean water and sanitation, the WASH sector in Bangladesh faces persistent challenges. Major issues include water contamination due to arsenic, salinity intrusion, and microbial pollution, exacerbated by climate disaster impacts such as flooding, water logging, droughts, and cyclones. In South Asia, where physical water scarcity exceeds 70%—far above the global average of 18%. The challenge is especially severe in Bangladesh’s hilly, coastal, and NW regions, where marginalized communities face significant difficulties in accessing water, which is crucial for their livelihood security. Poor sanitation and hygiene, especially in slums and rural areas, contribute to environmental pollution and health risks, while rapid urbanization has outpaced infrastructure development. Governance challenges, including fragmented responsibilities, weak regulatory enforcement, and limited public funding, further hinder progress. Social and behavioral barriers, such as inadequate hygiene awareness and gender disparities, add to the complexity of achieving sustainable improvements.
To address these challenges and meet SDG 6.2 by 2030, the Government of Bangladesh has undertaken initiatives to expand equitable sanitation and hygiene access, with a focus on women, girls, and vulnerable communities. However, E. coli contamination in drinking water remains a significant concern (MICS, 2019). Research by RED has highlighted key barriers, including gaps in handwashing practices, scarcity of water for livelihood security in hilly area, in coastal areas, and NW regions; microbial contamination from shallow tubewells, and the deterioration of sanitation infrastructure over time.
Studies emphasize the need for Behavior Change Communication and community-based hygiene monitoring as effective strategies for improving handwashing practices and reducing the risk of infectious diseases in rural communities. Strengthening water quality monitoring, enhancing climate-resilient WASH infrastructure, investing in innovative sanitation solutions, and scaling up public awareness campaigns are critical for ensuring long-term progress in the sector.
Building the right capacity of frontline workers dedicated to community development is essential for effectively delivering the right messages, services, and technologies. This empowers low-educated, marginalized populations to adopt sustainable solutions, driving positive behavior change and improving water management.
Need to prioritize science-driven, evidence-based, and community-led for drinking water, alongside strong governance to ensure equitable and sustainable water access, particularly in areas facing physical water scarcity and climate vulnerability.
