1. Faecal sludge management in Bangladesh
an issue that needs urgent attention
Aftab Opel, M Khairul Bashar, M Feroze Ahmed
Asia regional sanitation and hygiene practitioners workshop
31 January – 2 February 2012
Dhaka, Bangladesh

2. The magnitude of the problem
Sanitation challenges
Open defecation
» Open defecation 50
reduced to 4.4 % in
40
2010 which is a
significant achievement 30
20
» Does it mean that the 10
magnitude of the 0
problem is also 2003 2011
reduced?

3. The magnitude of the problem
Sanitation challenges
» About 80,000 tons of sludge Sludge
generation/treatment
generated per day in the
country 4
» About 24,000 tons of sludge 26
generated per day in the urban
areas of the country
70
» About 960 tons of sludge go
to treatment plant in Dhaka
» What happens to the remaining Rural Urban Treatment
volume?

4. Methodology
Sanitation challenges
» 1220 household
interviewed in 3 cities
» Samples in Khulna
and Faridpur were
statistically
representative for the
cities
» Samples in Dhaka
were not
representative for the
city

5. Toilet type Access type
100%
100%
90%
80%
80%
70%
60%
60%
50%
40% 40%
30%
20% 20%
10%
0% 0%
Dhaka Khulna Faridpur Dhaka Khulna Faridpur
VIP Pit Septic Tank OD Community Shared Personal

6. Pit/tank emptying and transportation
methods
100%
90%
80%
70%
60% Other
50%
40% Mechanical
30%
Manual
20%
10%
0%
Dhaka Khulna Faridpur

7. Destination of sludge
100%
90% Open
80% waterbody
70% Underground
60%
Particular place
50%
40% Open drain
30%
Randomly
20%
10%
0%
Dhaka Khulna Faridpur

8. Frequency of emptying

9. Awareness of the
consequences

10. Expenses of emptying Willingness
to pay for improved service
» Manual 100%
80%
US$12-US$17
60%
40%
» Mechanical 20%
US$ 17 – US$40 0%
Dhaka Khulna Faridpur
No Yes

11. Demand estimation for on-site
sanitation

12. Service coverage

13. Follow up activities
» An action research to find out
possible ways forward (with funding
from Simavi)
» We shall try out different models to
make sludge into product over the
next 2 years.
» We welcome your thoughts and
ideas.

14. Acknowledgement
The research was funded and guided
by
We acknowledge their support.