Safe sanitation remains out of reach for a large share of the global population.
Open defecation, unplanned sanitation systems, and unhygienic environments continue to fuel serious health risks every day. November 19 is observed worldwide as World Toilet Day, aimed at raising awareness and accelerating progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6—ensuring safe sanitation for all.
According to the United Nations, nearly 2 billion people still lack access to basic sanitation, including 354 million who practice open defecation.
About 60% of the world’s population is deprived of safe toilet facilities—meaning 4.5 billion people either use toilets without safe waste management or have none at home. More alarmingly, over 800,000 people die each year due to unsafe sanitation, with children accounting for a significant share of the deaths.
South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa face the most severe challenges. In India, millions still defecate in the open despite numerous improvement initiatives. The day was first proposed by World Toilet Organization founder Jack Sim in 2001 and officially recognized by the UN in 2013.
The sanitation scenario in Bangladesh is equally concerning. Government and international data show that 61% of the population still lacks access to hygienic sanitation.
About 23.4 million people use unimproved toilets, while 0.94% of households continue to practice open defecation. Nearly 77% share toilets with other households.
World Bank data from 2022 show that basic sanitation coverage is 59.3%, leaving 41% without even minimum-level facilities. Urban areas fare slightly better than rural regions, but overall gaps remain stark.
Dhaka, the capital, has a severe shortage of public toilets relative to its population.
Government figures show:
Most suffer from poor maintenance, lack of water, broken fittings, foul odour, waste buildup, and safety concerns.
Brac studies found that public toilets in Kamalapur, Gulistan, the TSC area of Dhaka University, Kamalapur Railway Station, and Farmgate are mostly unhygienic, foul-smelling, and unusable.
At several locations—including Kazi Nazrul College, Bahadur Shah Park, and Sadarghat—users must pay fees but still lack access to soap, handwash, or tissues. In Noyabazar, the public toilet at Zinda Baba Noab Sirajuddaula Park is being used as a coffee shop storeroom.
DSCC Chief Health Officer, Nishat Parveen, told Dhaka Tribune that DNCC plans to build 11 new public toilets, equipped with modern facilities. Existing toilets will be renovated, and caretakers are undergoing awareness and management training. WaterAid and ActionAid facilities are reportedly functioning comparatively better.
A study by ActionAid and UK Aid found that over 90 percent of Dhaka’s public toilets are unusable:
Many toilets remain locked, caretakers restrict access, and separate facilities for women are rare.
Research by WaterAid and the Centre for Urban Studies shows that of 72 public toilets surveyed, only 47 were accessible. As a result, nearly one-third of the city’s population is forced to defecate in open areas—streets, alleys, railway lines, or riverbanks.
Separate toilets for women are essential for public access. Although the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, and Bangladesh National Building Code, 2021, mandate women-friendly toilets, implementation is extremely weak.
A 2023 Brac study across 192 courts found only 46 (24%) had separate women’s toilets.
On average, 140 women and children visit these daily, yet many toilets are locked, broken, or unhygienic.
Brac’s WASH Program Head Mohammad Ali said Dhaka’s shortage is especially severe. In a city of 21 million, there are fewer than 200 public toilets, many of which are unusable. Each toilet ends up serving thousands of people daily, pushing many toward unsafe practices or limiting water intake.
Women are the most affected: most toilets lack privacy, security, lighting, locks, and menstrual hygiene facilities. WaterAid and DSK report that 35% of women avoid public toilets, increasing risks of UTIs and dehydration.
Around 230 tons of untreated fecal waste enter Dhaka’s water bodies daily, increasing pollution and waterborne diseases. Children under five are the worst affected. Poor sanitation causes an economic loss of around $4.2 billion annually.
To tackle the crisis, WaterAid has introduced a star-rating system to assess hygiene, safety, accessibility, and gender sensitivity.
Lack of safe sanitation leads to diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, and other waterborne diseases. Contaminated water, dirty toilets, and inadequate waste management pose severe risks, especially to children.
Limited access for women, children, and marginalised groups in public and institutional settings is seen as a major public health and human rights challenge.
Safe toilets are essential not just for health but also for dignity, safety, and human rights—particularly for women and girls.
