In October of this year, the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) issued a request for expressions of interest for a “Technical Assistance Project for the Preparatory Activities of the proposed Dhaka Sanitation Improvement Project (DSIP) (Phase-I).” Regarding the current status of the sewer system in Dhaka, the document says that the northern part of the city has no sewer network, whereas the southern part's sewerage facilities have deteriorated severely. As a result, it concludes, most of the city's sewage and/or wastewater is directly discharged into stormwater drainage canals without treatment, ultimately flowing to the nearby open canals or surrounding rivers, contaminating all the surface water bodies in and around the city and creating health hazards, offensive odour and unhygienic environment.

Bangladesh prides itself, as it should, on having reduced open defecation to only one percent. This is a significant accomplishment. However, in light of the above situation, without a proper functioning sewage system to ensure proper containment and treatment of faecal sludge, the end result is the same as if there was 100 percent open defecation.

It is imperative that Bangladesh gives priority to on-site sanitation solutions. On-site sanitation solutions can be implemented in much less time and at a cost far less than sewage systems. For example, with an investment of USD 180 million Khulna will have sewer access for just 60 percent of the population by 2030, whereas an investment of USD 5 million in on-site sanitation will ensure universal access within the next five years.