Water, sanitation and hygiene

Although most people in Bangladesh have access to basic drinking water in both urban and rural areas, water quality remains a major concern due to bacteriological contamination caused by poor sanitation practices and chemical contamination. While arsenic contamination affects around 15 per cent of drinking water sources as per WHO standard, bacteriological contamination remains a major concern, with 84.9 per cent microbial contamination detected at household levels drinking water. This has reduced safely managed drinking water coverage to 39.3 per cent (MICS 2025). In coastal areas, climate-induced seawater intrusion is further increasing salinity contamination and limiting access to safe drinking water.

In Bangladesh the responsibility of collecting water falls mainly on women and girls, with women carrying out 82 per cent of water collection and girls contributing 4 per cent. As a result, women lose valuable time for their families and personal wellbeing, while girls miss opportunities for education, recreation, and personal development.

Bangladesh has been successful in substantially reducing open defecation. Currently, 73 per cent of people in Bangladesh have access to improved sanitation facilities that hygienically separate human waste from human contact. However, greater attention is still needed to improve sanitation treatment services and prevent environmental pollution caused by human waste.

Only 68 per cent of households have a handwashing facility with water and soap, indicating that despite relatively high awareness, actual handwashing practices remain low. Lack of knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene management is also a major concern, as many girls do not learn about menstruation before their first menstruation; leading to fear, stigma, unsafe practices, and poor menstrual management.

A significant number of water points (10.2 per cent) across the country are affected and disrupted by natural hazards which is a clear reminder that climate-resilient Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities are no longer optional but essential. It is not enough to include climate-resilient WASH services in policy documents; we must also strengthen our national and local agencies with technical guidelines and implementation capacity to translate these policies into effective action.

Environmental pollution in the form of unregulated sewage being disposed of without any treatment into the environment is jeopardizing the availability of the scare freshwater resources of the country and is contributing to the spread of diseases.

UNICEF’s priorities in relation to children having access to WASH facilities focus on equity and areas where services are less developed, especially in poor population areas, urban slums, remote rural areas, climate vulnerable locations.

UNICEF is working to ensure that all children and women have access to and utilize quality, equitable, resilient and sustainable WASH services and adopt appropriate hygiene behaviours and practices. It supports achieving the 8FYP WASH targets guided by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives.

Evidence-based policy advocacy and sector regulations will be supported to increase human and financial assets, improve targeting, respond to climate change impacts and address gender barriers. Resilience of WASH services will be strengthened through piloting and scaling-up of disaster- and climate-resilient facilities.