Institutional and Regulatory Framework for Faecal Sludge Management launched by the Government

Posted by
Clement Serao
on
5 November 2017
In
Bangladesh
Institutional and Regulatory Framework for Faecal Sludge Management launched by the Government

 

On November 5 2017, the ‘Institutional and Regulatory Framework for Faecal Sludge Management (FSM)’ was officially launched at an event held at the capital’s Department of Public Health Engineering. The event was co-organised by Practical Action Bangladesh, SNV Netherlands, Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) and WaterAid Bangladesh.

Nasrin Akter, Additional Secretary, Local Government Division formally launched this much anticipated Framework, which will help address the country’s growing need for FSM systems for proper containment, emptying, transportation, treatment and disposal of faecal sludge. This Framework will act as a guideline for government and non-government institutions to follow, especially the Local Government Institutions (LGIs) in order to ensure provisions of better sanitation services for the country’s population who need it the most.

Ms. Akter, present at the ceremony as Chief Guest, while speaking on the issue stated her vision regarding implementation of this Framework and how she sees this as a milestone in the country’s sanitation sector, further helping achieve the Global Goal 6.

Dr Md. Khairul Islam, Country Director of WaterAid Bangladesh spoke on the launch on the necessity of such a framework and how government and non-government organisations should come together to solve this crisis, which if not taken into account now might toughen the country’s efforts in achieving the global landmark of water, sanitation and hygiene. 

Among Special Guests present at the launch were Md. Mahbub Hossein, Additional Secretary, Local Government Division; Carlos Acosta, Chief, Social Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation of UNICEF Bangladesh; Md. Rashedul Huque, Chief Engineer, Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) and Dr Md. Mujibur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, BUET.

Additionally present was Abdur Rouf, Joint Secretary of the Policy Support Branch of Local Government Division.

Following the launching ceremony in the morning, a ‘Workshop on Health and Safety of the Septic Tank/Pit Emptiers’ was held in the second half of the day, which focused on the urgent need for safeguarding lives of septic tank/pit emptiers - a highly vulnerable and stigmatised group.

Present at the workshop as Chief Guest was Md. Mahbub Hossein, Additional Secretary, Local Government Division. The workshop was chaired by A. K. M. Ibrahim, Additional Chief Engineer, Department of Public Health Engineering. 

Download the frameworks: FSM_IRF Mega City DhakaFSM_IRF City CorporationsFSM_IRF PourashavaFSM_IRF Rural Areas