One-third of Bangladesh’s population lack access to safe sanitation: Report

According to the WHO/Unicef Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Report 2022, more than 65 million people—over one-third of Bangladesh’s population—still lack access to safely managed sanitation.

Every day, 230 tons of fecal waste end up in open water bodies across Dhaka, contributing to severe environmental pollution and posing serious health risks, particularly for marginalized communities and children, according to the report.

On Tuesday, during the International Toilet Conference 2025 in Dhaka, Unicef, WaterAid, SNV, and ITN-Buet emphasized the urgent need for accelerated progress in sanitation and hygiene.

According to the report, 70 million people in Bangladesh lack access to a decent toilet, and 41% of the population still does not have improved or at least basic sanitation.

Each year, more than a thousand children under the age of five die from diarrhea caused by dirty water and poor sanitation. Poor hygiene and environmental contaminants such as E coli and arsenic further compromise public health and well-being, as per the report.

Meanwhile, Dhaka, a city of 21 million people, has fewer than 100 clean, inclusive, and women-friendly public toilets, the report mentioned.

“Children have benefitted from commendable progress in the elimination of open defecation in Bangladesh—an achievement made at a faster pace than in most countries. However, last year’s historical floods in Feni showed how these advances can be devastated by climate hazards, destroying infrastructure and leaving children vulnerable,” said Rana Flowers, Unicef representative in Bangladesh.

“Children have the right to grow up in a healthy environment, but without proper sanitation, they cannot grow up healthy and safe,” she added.

"To ensure adequate sanitation for the most marginalized, including women and children, Bangladesh must continue fostering private-sector partnerships, investing in the WASH sector, strengthening regulatory mechanisms to ensure quality services and sustainability, and reducing contamination and reliance on groundwater.

"Sanitation services in Bangladesh remain particularly fragile due to the growing impact of climate change, including increased flooding and extreme weather events—some occurring in areas like Feni that had not been affected for over half a century. These hazards compromise existing infrastructure and water resources, particularly in vulnerable rural and coastal communities."

“The Toilet Conference 2025 stands at a pivotal moment in the global sanitation movement, transforming toilets from an overlooked necessity into a driver of dignity, health, and innovation. This conference is more than just a discussion—it is a call to action to challenge outdated practices, embrace cutting-edge solutions, and recognize sanitation as essential for human rights, environmental sustainability, and economic growth,” said Hasin Jahan, country director of WaterAid Bangladesh.

“Every child needs a toilet to stay in school, every woman deserves safe sanitation for dignity, and every community must manage waste responsibly to protect our planet. Toilets are everyone’s business,” she said.

The economic impact of poor sanitation is estimated at $4.2 billion annually—equivalent to almost 1.5% of Bangladesh’s GDP in 2018.

However, achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) sanitation targets requires an eightfold acceleration in progress, according to trend analysis from the Unicef and WHO Joint Monitoring Programme 2022.

Unicef and WaterAid underscored the urgent need for increased investment and innovative solutions to address the sanitation crisis through.