CWIS Planning Workshops for Five Municipalities
In a significant stride towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) for clean water and sanitation, WaterAid Bangladesh, in collaboration with the CWIS-FSM Support Cell of DPHE (CFSC) and ITN-BUET, recently conducted a series of Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) planning workshops for five municipalities across the country. The workshops, held under the "National and Bilateral WASH Advocacy (NaBWASHA)" project, aimed to empower municipal officials with the knowledge and tools necessary for effective CWIS planning. Following each workshop, the mayors or the representatives endorsed the draft plan for their municipality, marking a historic moment as it is the first of its kind in Bangladesh!
Lalmonirhat Municipality Leads the Way
The initiative kicked off with the first workshop in Lalmonirhat Municipality on 22 August 2023 at Rangpur RDRS. The event commenced with a brief presentation on the NaBWASHA project, followed by an overview of CWIS. Key findings from the baseline study were shared by Sanjoy Mukherjee, serving as a foundation for the subsequent group exercises. Participants, including Executive Engineers, Planners, Health Officers, and Accounts Officers, collaboratively worked on drafting the CWIS plan. They set targets for 2024 and 2030, outlining actionable steps to achieve these objectives. The highlight of the day was the endorsement of the CWIS plan by Md Rezaul Karim Swapan, Mayor of Lalmonirhat municipality. By that, Lalmonirhat municipality became the first in Bangladesh to endorse the draft CWIS plan, signed by the Mayor himself.
Saidpur, Sakhipur, Lakshmipur, and Teknaf Follow Suit
The Saidpur session on the subsequent day mirrored the same structure and concluded with the endorsement of the CWIS plan by the three panel mayors on behalf of the Mayor of Saidpur municipality.
Sakhipur municipality's CWIS planning workshop, held on 28 August 2023 at Dream Square Resort, Gazipur, maintained the same modality, with Md Abu Hanif Azad, Mayor of Sakhipur municipality, officially endorsing the draft plan.
On 7 September 2023, Laxmipur municipality saw its own CWIS planning workshop at BURO Bangladesh, Cumilla which was endorsed by the mayor of the municipality, Mozammel Hayder Masum Bhuiyan.
The fifth and final CWIS planning workshop took place on 11 September 2023 at Hotel The Cox Today, Cox's Bazar, for Teknaf municipality. The day concluded with the Mayor of Teknaf municipality, Mr Mohammed Islam, endorsing the draft CWIS plan, solidifying their commitment to advancing sanitation and hygiene initiatives in the region.
Paving the Way for a Cleaner, Healthier Future
The success of these workshops sets a precedent for municipalities across Bangladesh, signifying a significant step towards achieving SDG 6 targets by 2030. These workshops underscored the importance of collaboration, compliance, environmental sustainability, and public awareness. The meticulous planning and execution, along with the active participation of various stakeholders, provided a vivid and engaging experience, ensuring that even those not present could grasp the essence of this landmark event.
With these CWIS planning workshops marking a crucial milestone on the path towards a cleaner, healthier future for all.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr Sanjoy Mukherjee, Mr Alauddin Ahmed, Mr Md Tahmidul Islam, Mr Fayazuddin Ahmad, Mr Md Shakhawat Hossain, Mr K A Amin, Ms Farah Naznin, Ms Samia Anwar Rafa, and Mr Md Zarif Oeishik for their valuable contributions to the success of these workshops.
