Experts urge inclusion of WASH in election manifestos

A national dialogue on Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) was held on Monday at a hotel in Dhaka, calling for the inclusion of strong WASH commitments in the election manifestos of political parties contesting the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election.

The dialogue was organised by the platform Network of WASH Networks, comprising ten national and international networks working in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector, with active support from WaterAid Bangladesh.

The event emphasised WASH as a fundamental development and public health priority that directly affects millions of people across Bangladesh.

The dialogue brought together representatives from major political parties, WASH professionals, and policy advocates.

Political representatives present at the dialogue included Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Annie, former MP (Lakshmipur-3), joint secretary general of BNP and member secretary of the BNP Media Cell; Dr SM Khaliduzzaman, MP candidate for Dhaka-17, president of Latifa Rashid Foundation and president of the National Doctors Forum; Colonel (retd) Abdul Baten, MP candidate for Dhaka-16 from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami; M Aftabuzzaman, senior executive member of the Department of Social Welfare and chairman of Apon Foundation and CEO of WOAB; Abdullah Baki Ratan, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh; Md Tasnim Laskar, joint general secretary of the Bangladesh Development Party; Arpita Shyama Deb, joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP); Nabid Nawroz Shah, joint chief coordinator of NCP; Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, general secretary of the AB Party; Abdullah Al-Mamun, joint general secretary of the AB Party; and Barrister Sunny Abdul Haque, joint general secretary of the AB Party.

The collaborating networks under the Network of WASH Networks platform include the Bangladesh Water Integrity Network, Bangladesh Water Works Association, Climate Justice Alliances, Coalition for the Urban Poor, Climate Action Network South Asia Bangladesh, End Water Poverty, Freshwater Action Network South Asia Bangladesh, Faecal Sludge Management Network, International Water Association Bangladesh Chapter, Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management Platform, Sustainable Sanitation Alliance, and Sanitation and Water for All.

The Network urged political parties to integrate strong and actionable WASH commitments into their election manifestos to safeguard public health and protect the lives and dignity of people across the country.

Participants acknowledged that sustainable and inclusive WASH services are essential for public health, human dignity, climate resilience, and long-term economic growth.

Through a comprehensive memorandum, the Network called for dedicated national budget allocation for WASH, clear policies and regulations on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHM), formal declaration of WASH as a priority sector within national financing frameworks, employment generation through the WASH industry, and the development of sustainable economic models for WASH service delivery.

In addition, the dialogue emphasised the need for investment in climate-adaptive WASH infrastructure, promotion of innovative technologies and research, and the incorporation of WASH components under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

The dialogue was moderated by Mohammad Zobair Hasan, vice president of the Bangladesh Water Works Association and deputy executive director of the Development Organisation of the Rural Poor-DORP.

Political representatives attending the dialogue expressed agreement with the presented recommendations and conveyed optimism that WASH priorities would be reflected in their respective election manifestos.