ITN BUET

𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬: 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦
🌍 Bangladesh faces growing challenges in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and waste management due to rapid urbanization, climate risks, public health concerns, and increasing regulatory complexity. Meeting these challenges requires advanced, multidisciplinary expertise, but the country currently lacks a dedicated postgraduate program focused exclusively on WASH and Waste Management.

🎓 To address this gap, ITN-BUET is planning the nation’s first Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in WASH and Waste Management. The program aims to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle urban sanitation pressures, climate risks, public health challenges, and evolving regulatory requirements.

🗓 On 3 February 2026, ITN-BUET organized a Consultation Workshop with 29 representatives from government agencies, development partners, NGOs, research institutions, and the private sector, including DPHE, LGED, WaterAid Bangladesh, icddr,b, SNV, and the World Bank. The workshop focused on aligning academic rigor with practical sector needs and gathering expert input on program structure, content, and delivery.

💡 Participants recommended a multidisciplinary curriculum integrating technical, financial, legal, environmental, and social dimensions, with a flexible, modular structure allowing certificate and diploma pathways toward a master’s degree. Strong emphasis was placed on including medical and hazardous waste management within the broader sanitation and environmental health framework.

✅ The consultation concluded with broad support for the initiative, highlighting that a dedicated postgraduate program at ITN-BUET would strengthen national capacity, foster sustainable WASH and waste management services, and prepare professionals to address Bangladesh’s complex urban sanitation challenges.

𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐒-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐍𝐂𝐂 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚
🚛 A two-day orientation workshop strengthened awareness and capacity on IMIS-based Scheduled Desludging in the DNCC area, jointly organized by ITN-BUET in collaboration with the Global Water & Sanitation Center (GWSC) of AIT and Innovative Solution Pvt. Ltd. (ISPL). Held on 18 and 20 January 2026 at ITN-BUET, the workshop brought together 21 participants, including private sanitation service providers, DWASA treatment plant operators, and DNCC waste management staff.

💻 The sessions focused on safely managed sanitation in Bangladesh, innovative desludging technologies, and the use of the IMIS-driven Scheduled Desludging Module (SDM). Participants explored how GIS-based building and containment databases support citywide desludging schedules through live demonstrations and hands-on exercises on both web and mobile platforms, highlighting IMIS as a versatile system for digital municipal service management.

🏭 A field visit to desludging operations at the Dasherkandi Sludge Treatment Plant in Aftabnagar provided practical exposure to IMIS-supported operations. Real-time desludging, conveyance, and disposal processes were explained, allowing participants to connect digital planning with on-ground implementation and appreciate the system’s user-friendly design.

🗣️ Interactive sessions on the second day encouraged group discussions and reflections on system usability, operational experiences, and implementation challenges. Presentations and structured feedback sessions further enriched the exchange of practical insights among participants.

🤝 In the closing session, speakers highlighted the strong interest among stakeholders and the potential of IMIS to improve sanitation service delivery. Emphasis was placed on hands-on training, sustained collaboration, and scaling up IMIS-driven scheduled desludging to strengthen citywide sanitation management in Dhaka.

𝐈𝐓𝐍-𝐁𝐔𝐄𝐓 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐜𝐝𝐝𝐫,𝐛 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

🤝 ITN-BUET and icddr,b have taken a major step forward in advancing climate-resilient WASH systems by signing a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) on 1 December 2025. The partnership aims to accelerate research, knowledge generation, and capacity building in sanitation and public health.

✍️ The agreement was signed by Professor Dr. Rowshan Mamtaz, Director of ITN-BUET, and Dr. Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director of icddr,b, reflecting a shared commitment to integrate engineering and health expertise for sustainable WASH and hospital waste management solutions.

💡 Under this collaboration, ITN-BUET will contribute engineering and technical expertise, including f***l sludge management and sanitation technologies, while icddr,b will provide public health, epidemiological, and clinical WASH expertise. Together, the partnership will promote innovation in climate-resilient WASH, hospital WASH, and medical waste management.

🎓 The SPA emphasizes capacity building through joint training programs, workshops, fellowships, and knowledge-sharing platforms that bring together engineers, healthcare professionals, and municipal authorities. Partners will develop training curricula, policy briefs, and practical guidelines integrating technical and clinical perspectives for stronger hospital- and community-level sanitation systems.

🌱 The collaboration also prioritizes operational research on hospital waste management, climate-resilient WASH, and public health impact assessment. Knowledge products generated will be co-created and disseminated for educational and non-commercial purposes, supporting national strategies and fostering scalable, safe, and sustainable sanitation practices.

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐆𝐒𝐆𝐒 𝐑𝐇 𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓!
The Global Sanitation Graduate School Regional Hub South and Southeast Asia (GSGS RH SSEA) seek to recognize outstanding scholarly work by young researchers who have made significant contributions to the field of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) through high-quality research, innovation, or demonstrated impact.
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
The award will be conferred on the best M.Sc thesis or peer reviewed journal publication completed or published in 2025. 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚
The primary criterion for the award is the quality and impact of the research. An evaluation panel will assess:
 Originality of the research
 Contribution to knowledge and practice
 Relevance with practical application in the WASH sector
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲?
M.Sc students who are enrolled in or completed their degree in 2025 under the GSGS program at participating academic institutions are eligible to apply.
𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐬
 An M.Sc thesis awarded in 2025, or
 A peer-reviewed journal publication published in 2025 where the applicant is the principal author
𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬
The selected awardee will receive:
 an official certificate, and
 a travel scholarship to participate in the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2026 in Glasgow, UK.
𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞
15 February 2026
🔗 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤
https://forms.gle/Z6JphynqtGnSsXNUA

docs.google.com

💠 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬-𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐃𝐏𝐇𝐄 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
🛠️ Bangladesh faces a major challenge in achieving SDG 6.2, which aims for 100% safely managed sanitation for all by 2030. Achieving this target requires effective f***l sludge management (FSM) systems, making capacity building of government officials—particularly those from the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE)—essential for planning, implementation, monitoring, and regulation of sanitation services nationwide.

🎓 To support this effort, the Training Division of DPHE and ITN-BUET jointly organized two batches of training on “F***l Sludge Management in Cities: An Element of Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS)” from 5–8 January 2026, with 40 Assistant Engineers of DPHE participating.

🎤 Mr. Eheteshamul Russel Khan, Additional Chief Engineer (Planning) of DPHE, inaugurated the training, emphasizing the urgency of accelerating sanitation efforts in urban areas. He highlighted the importance of strengthening technical and institutional capacity at the local level and expressed confidence that the training would equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed for effective FSM planning and management.

📚 The training applied an adult learning approach combining theoretical discussions with hands-on sessions. Topics included principles of FSM, technical design, social and financial aspects, sustainability, FS quantification and treatment methods, service delivery models, social mobilization, stakeholder engagement, and enabling factors for effective FSM implementation. Interactive group exercises strengthened participants’ ability to plan and execute FSM activities in various DPHE development projects.

👍 Participants appreciated the relevance and practicality of the training. Md. Kabul Khan, Assistant Engineer, DPHE, Savar, noted that it enhanced understanding of FSM and shifted perspectives, while Md. Abdulla-Hill-Kafi, DPHE Dhaka, described the sessions as highly interactive and engaging, highlighting the effectiveness of group activities.

✅ At the closing ceremony, Prof. Dr. Rowshan Mamtaz, Director of ITN-BUET, emphasized that the knowledge and skills gained would support accelerated progress in urban FSM. Participants were encouraged to apply the learnings in their respective projects to contribute to sustainable and efficient FSM service delivery at the local level.

🌐 𝐏𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭-𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟎 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩
🛠️ A planning workshop on implementing the capacity building component of the 10 Towns Project was jointly organized by ITN-BUET and the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Inclusive and Integrated Sanitation and Hygiene Project in 10 Priority Towns in Bangladesh, DPHE, on 4 January 2026. The workshop brought together key stakeholders to collaboratively shape a context-specific strategy for capacity building and awareness activities under the project.

🎤 The workshop began with an inaugural session where Mr. Habibur Rahman, WASH Specialist, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), outlined the workshop objectives and emphasized the importance of strategic capacity building for achieving sustainable sanitation outcomes. Mr. Shamim Ahmed, Project Director of the 10 Priority Towns Project, shared the project vision and highlighted the need for a coordinated and results-oriented capacity building and awareness program. Dr. Rowshan Mamtaz, Director of ITN-BUET, reaffirmed ITN-BUET’s commitment to supporting DPHE and municipalities through evidence-based individual and institutional capacity development.

📊 An overview of ongoing project activities and expectations from the proposed capacity building and awareness interventions was presented by Ms. Dilruba Farzana, Deputy Project Director, PMU. The presentation emphasized how targeted capacity development can support effective sanitation service delivery at the local level.

🧩 The proposed approach for capacity building and awareness was then presented by Mr. Ashraful Awal from Swabalambi Samaj Unnayan Sangstha (SSUS), consultant of the project. Based on reflections from recent visits to three project towns, the presentation highlighted the need for tailoring training content to local contexts, addressing real operational challenges, and adopting practical, hands-on learning methods.

📘 Ms. Faria Tasnim, Training Specialist, ITN-BUET, shared an overview of ITN-BUET’s existing capacity building and awareness packages, highlighting lessons learned and best practices from previous training programs. The session underscored opportunities to adapt and scale these resources to meet the specific needs of the 10 Towns Project.

💬 A technical discussion moderated by Mr. Kazi Amin, Knowledge Management Specialist, ITN-BUET, focused on refining the workplan and developing context-specific capacity building packages. Mr. Alauddin Ahmed emphasized prioritization, coherence with project objectives, and avoiding duplication, while Mr. Habibur Rahman recommended close alignment between capacity building activities and project interventions. Mr. Sanjoy Mukherjee, Social Development Expert, CWIS-FSM Support Cell, stressed the importance of reviewing previous needs assessments to further fine-tune the approach.

✅ The workshop concluded with a shared understanding of key capacity gaps and a clear direction for moving forward, marking an important step toward developing a coordinated, practical, and locally grounded capacity building and awareness program to strengthen sanitation service delivery across the ten project towns.

💠 𝐈𝐓𝐍-𝐁𝐔𝐄𝐓 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞-𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

🤝 ITN-BUET and FINISH Mondial Bangladesh (FMBD) signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement on 7 January 2026 to advance safely managed, inclusive, and climate-resilient sanitation in Bangladesh. The partnership focuses on accelerating integrated WASH solutions through capacity building, research, innovation, and knowledge sharing.

✍️ The agreement was signed by Professor Dr. Rowshan Mamtaz, Director of ITN-BUET, and Wahida Anjoom, Country Coordinator & Executive Director of FMBD, reflecting a shared long-term commitment to sustainable sanitation services. This collaboration brings together ITN-BUET’s academic and technical expertise with FMBD’s strong field experience in sanitation financing, climate-resilient WASH technologies, and integrated FSM and SWM.

📚 Under the partnership, ITN-BUET will lead the development of training modules, capacity-building programs, and applied research on Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS), f***l sludge management, climate-resilient infrastructure, and circular sanitation economy. FMBD will contribute practical implementation models, innovative financing mechanisms, and field-tested solutions to support scalable sanitation interventions.

🏗️ The collaboration will also promote exposure visits, pilot innovative sanitation technologies such as decentralized wastewater treatment systems and bio-toilets, and provide hands-on technical guidance to local governments and WASH practitioners to strengthen institutional capacity and urban sanitation outcomes.

🌍 The partnership will further engage in policy dialogue, evidence-based advocacy, and knowledge dissemination to support national sanitation priorities and SDG 6 targets. With an initial duration until December 2027, this strategic alliance aims to bridge research, capacity building, and field practice to foster a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban sanitation future in Bangladesh.

✨ 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐏𝐇𝐄 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐃𝐆 𝟔.𝟐 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

🚰 Achieving SDG Target 6.2—100% safely managed sanitation for all by 2030—requires Bangladesh to accelerate sanitation progress significantly. Strengthening the capacity of government officials, particularly those from DPHE who oversee sanitation nationwide (excluding WASA areas), plays a critical role in meeting this ambitious goal.

🏗️ To support this effort, the Training Division of the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), in collaboration with ITN-BUET, organized two batches of training on the Planning and Design of F***l Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs) at the DPHE WASH Training Centre in Cox’s Bazar.

📘 The training blended theoretical sessions on FSTP principles, technologies, and step-by-step design calculations with hands-on learning at DPHE’s Integrated Waste Management Plant at Camp-2W in the Rohingya Camp, Cox’s Bazar. Participants gained practical exposure to FSTP operations, co-composting of dried f***l sludge with organic solid waste, treatment of inorganic waste, and energy generation from plastic waste.

👷 A total of 58 Assistant Engineers from DPHE participated in the two batches, with the first batch held from 24–25 November 2025 and the second from 26–27 November 2025. The training addressed real-time challenges, as FSTPs under DPHE projects across various cities are currently at different stages of construction and operation.

💬 Participants highly appreciated the relevance and applicability of the training, noting that it provided timely and practical knowledge essential for their ongoing responsibilities in FSTP implementation and operation.

🎓 The first batch of the training was inaugurated by Ms. Ruksana Parvin, Executive Engineer, Training Division, DPHE, while certificates were distributed by Prof. Dr. Rowshan Mamtaz, Director, ITN-BUET, during the closing ceremony, marking a significant step toward strengthening institutional capacity for improved sanitation outcomes.

✨𝐈𝐓𝐍-𝐁𝐔𝐄𝐓 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐖𝐀 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 & 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

🌍 ITN-BUET actively participated in the IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition 2025, organized by the International Water Association (IWA) in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), held from 8–12 December 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. The global event brought together over 3,000 water professionals from more than 80 countries to exchange ideas on water, sanitation, and innovation for a resilient future, with a strong focus on the Global South and Asia.

🎤 ITN-BUET demonstrated strong technical and institutional leadership throughout the congress by delivering eight oral presentations, ten poster presentations, and two poster pitch presentations, while also serving as chair and co-chair in multiple technical sessions. These contributions highlighted ITN-BUET’s growing role in shaping global dialogue on sanitation, urban water governance, and CWIS.

📚 The platform was also used to disseminate ITN-BUET’s knowledge products and publications on sanitation, Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS), occupational health and safety, climate-resilient WASH technologies, and applied research. Flashcards with QR codes enabled participants to easily access key resources and ongoing work.

🤝 A major milestone of the engagement was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ITN-BUET and the Global Water & Sanitation Center (GWSC) at AIT. The MoU formalized collaboration on advancing CWIS implementation and strengthening digital governance in urban sanitation, reinforcing long-term regional and global partnerships.

💻 One of the key highlights was the workshop titled “From Toilet Pit to Policy Pixels: Building Data-Driven Sanitation Systems in South Asia,” held on 12 December 2025. Chaired by Professor Dr. A. B. M. Badruzzaman, Vice-Chancellor of BUET, with a keynote by Professor Thammarat Koottatep of GWSC, the session showcased country experiences from Bangladesh, India, and Nepal on digital sanitation platforms and explored governance, financing, data interoperability, and regional collaboration through interactive discussions.

🌱 Overall, the congress provided extensive opportunities for networking, learning, and collaboration. Through active participation, technical leadership, and partnership-building initiatives, ITN-BUET reaffirmed its commitment to advancing inclusive, data-driven, and resilient water and sanitation systems at regional and global levels.

👥 𝐈𝐓𝐍-𝐁𝐔𝐄𝐓 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐜𝐝𝐝𝐫,𝐛 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐂𝐂𝐄 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤

🌟 On 30 November 2025, ITN-BUET, in collaboration with the Environmental Health and WASH (E-WASH) unit of HSPSD, icddr,b, organized a stakeholder workshop titled “𝐔𝐂𝐂𝐄 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: 𝐀 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐫-𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡” Around 20 participants from government agencies, NGOs, development partners, academia, and international organizations took part in the event.

🏫Chief Guest Mr. Ehteshamul Rasel Khan, Additional Chief Engineer, DPHE, emphasized the need for child-friendly, safe, and accessible WASH facilities in crisis-affected communities. He highlighted the importance of adopting user-centered approaches that respond to real community needs.

🧒Chairperson Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Lead and Project Coordinator, E-WASH, underscored how the UCCE methodology supports evidence-based and community-informed WASH solutions. Engagement with children and caregivers was recognized as essential for designing sustainable facilities, especially in humanitarian contexts.

🔹 Ms. Titly Sen, Research Trainee, presented the major findings, challenges, and field experiences from implementing the UCCE approach.
🔹 Sk. Shareyar showcased an audio-visual documentary and demonstrated a dummy facility, allowing participants to explore its usability, safety features, and design innovations.
🔹 Dr. Nuhu Amin led a group exercise where participants applied UCCE principles to emergency WASH and public health scenarios.

📝 Mr. Alauddin Ahmed, Project Manager, ITN-BUET, delivered a concise wrap-up highlighting the growing importance of user-centered design in improving WASH research and programming.

🎓 Special Guests Professor Dr. Rowshan Mamtaz, Director, ITN-BUET, and Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, Professor, BUET, encouraged all stakeholders to integrate UCCE learning into mainstream WASH programming. They emphasized inclusiveness, safety, and evidence-driven approaches for future interventions.

🤝The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to:
✔ Strengthen collaboration
✔ Promote child-centered WASH solutions
✔ Apply UCCE principles to enhance equity, safety, and long-term impact

🚽 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 (𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐) 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

🌍 On 30 November 2025, the second session of City-San Connect, hosted by ITN-BUET under the SaniRepo platform, brought together around 45 participants from Bangladesh and abroad. The virtual dialogue centered on the theme “From Toilet Lost to Toilet Legacy: Building Systems That Last.” The 90-minute event featured expert presentations, interactive discussions, and active audience engagement, moderated by Md Masudul Islam, COO of Bhumijo.

📌 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

🇳🇵 Yashodha Shrestha, CEO of Triangle Solutions, Nepal, shared insights on Nepal’s public sanitation progress, emphasizing resilient designs, effective O&M systems, and community participation. Key challenges such as rapid urbanization and gaps in toilet coverage were also highlighted.

🇧🇩 Babul Bala, Programme Lead at WaterAid Bangladesh, presented WaterAid’s approach to developing modern, inclusive public toilets—particularly facilities designed for women and persons with disabilities. Sustainability strategies such as user fees, trained caretakers, and management committees were discussed, along with positive community experiences.

💬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

Participants engaged in enriching conversations on financing models, maintenance planning, user-centered design, and strategies to prevent the “toilet loss” that often results from weak O&M and governance gaps. The dialogue reinforced the understanding that public toilets symbolize health, dignity, and community pride.

🚨 The session emphasized the global scale of non-functional toilets, where billions of dollars are lost due to poor maintenance, design flaws, and weak accountability. Achieving SDG 6.2 requires long-term performance, not just toilet construction.

🌱 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝

✔ Strong O&M and financing systems
✔ Inclusive and resilient design
✔ Community engagement
✔ Clear governance and accountability
✔ Continuous monitoring to prevent toilet loss

💡 𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒚-𝑺𝒂𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒔..