World Toilet Day, a United Nations designated global observance dedicated to promoting safe sanitation, was commemorated in Dhaka as Harpic Bangladesh hosted a special awareness event at Lakeshore Heights.
The initiative aimed to highlight sanitation and hygiene challenges in Bangladesh while honoring the critical contributions of sanitation workers nationwide. Distinguished academicians, sector specialists, and representatives from government, non-government, and private institutions participated in the discussion to assess current realities and future priorities for the country’s sanitation ecosystem.
The program opened with a keynote speech by Dr. Abdullah Al Muyeed titled “World Toilet Day and Sanitation Workers.” Dr. Muyeed emphasized the indispensable role sanitation workers play in safeguarding public health. He outlined prevailing sectoral challenges, proposed practical and scalable solutions, and underscored the corporate sector’s responsibility in strengthening and supporting this essential workforce. He concluded by stating that a toilet is not merely a place of convenience but “a sanctuary of sanitation and hygiene.”
A high-level panel discussion followed, featuring Commodore ABM Shamsul Alam, Chief Waste Management Officer, DNCC; Commodore Md Mahbubur Rahman Talukder, Chief Waste Management Officer, DSCC; Fazlul Hoque, Deputy CEO, SAJIDA Foundation; Arian Arif, Founder and Executive Director, Mojar School; and Sabrin Maruf Tinni, Head of Marketing, Reckitt Benckiser Bangladesh PLC. The discussion was moderated by Md Rakib Uddin, External Affairs Manager at Reckitt Benckiser Bangladesh PLC.
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Panelists reiterated that strong collaboration between public and private institutions is essential for ensuring safe and hygienic sanitation facilities for every citizen. They noted that only joint and long-term action will enable meaningful progress.
A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of three new chapters of Harpic’s updated comic series “Dipu Tushi’s Hygiene Adventures.” Designed to help children learn about personal hygiene, toilet cleanliness, and healthy living in an engaging and accessible way, the comic aims to instill lifelong hygiene habits. Harpic also introduced the accompanying animated series developed to further expand hygiene education among children.
In addition, Harpic Bangladesh and SAJIDA Foundation announced an expansion of their joint initiatives. Together with the City Corporations, they will extend support to an additional 2,000 sanitation workers and their families, reinforcing their commitment to improving the wellbeing of this vital workforce.
The program concluded with a recap of Harpic Bangladesh’s activities over the past year, reaffirming the brand’s dedication to elevating sanitation, hygiene awareness, and cleanliness standards across the country.
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Sabrin Maruf Tinni, Head of Marketing at Reckitt Benckiser Bangladesh PLC, stated:
“World Toilet Day reminds us that sanitation is a fundamental human right. Harpic is proud to raise awareness in rural communities, provide hygiene education in primary schools, support sanitation workers, and help underprivileged children learn about hygiene. We will continue advancing impactful initiatives to improve public health across Bangladesh.”
Observed annually on 19 November, World Toilet Day raises global awareness on the importance of safe sanitation and reinforces the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure universal access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene by 2030.
