|| By Md. Mukhlesur RahmanOne of the defining characteristics of a modern, safe and livable city is the availability of adequate and hygienic public toilets for all citizens. Yet, in Dhaka, the shortage of safe, clean and women-friendly public toilets remains far greater than the actual demand. This creates daily hardship for working women, students, businesswomen, pedestrians and women who need to travel outside their homes for medical or other essential purposes. Many women are unable to use public toilets even when they urgently need to. Some hold their urine for extended periods, others deliberately reduce their water intake, while many try to complete their activities as quickly as possible and return home. This is not merely a deficiency in urban amenities; it is a serious issue involving women’s health, personal dignity, safety, freedom of movement and equal citizenship rights.A recent report published in a national daily highlighted the shortage of women-friendly public toilets in the capital and the various health problems women face as a consequence. The report provided figures on the number of public toilets under the jurisdiction of Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation. It also referred to research conducted by WaterAid, offering a clearer picture of the extent of the problem. A significant proportion of the women surveyed reported that, due to the lack of adequate and usable public toilets, they either reduce their water intake or avoid using public toilets altogether.WaterAid’s 2025 study, Women on the Go: How Poor Sanitation Influences Urban Women’s Water Intake in Bangladesh, provides important insights into this issue. The study, conducted among 865 urban women, found that the lack of safe and hygienic sanitation facilities negatively affects women’s water consumption and daily mobility. This demonstrates that the problem is not simply a collection of isolated personal experiences; rather, it reflects structural weaknesses in urban infrastructure and public service delivery.Inadequate water intake can increase the risk of dehydration, reduced urine production, constipation and physical discomfort. Similarly, holding urine for prolonged periods can cause discomfort and potentially increase certain health risks.Another important dimension of this problem concerns women’s economic and social participation. When women cannot access safe toilets while travelling to and from workplaces, visiting markets, attending educational institutions or using public transport, their normal lives are disrupted. Working hours, students’ educational activities, small business owners’ earnings and the freedom of movement of ordinary women can all be affected. Therefore, the provision of women-friendly public toilets must not be viewed merely as a matter of cleanliness or hygiene. It is also closely connected to women’s employment, productivity and economic empowerment.Menstrual health management deserves particular attention. Most public toilets lack adequate water, soap, sanitary napkins, proper waste-disposal facilities and an environment conducive to maintaining personal hygiene. In many locations, separate and secure entrances for women, sufficient lighting, functional door locks and adequate security arrangements are also lacking. Facilities for women with disabilities are even more limited. Consequently, although some public places may officially have separate toilets for women, their number is far below actual demand, and a considerable proportion are unsuitable for practical use.In this regard, Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation have particularly important responsibilities. Their duties do not end with publishing statistics on how many public toilets have been constructed. They must closely monitor how many are operational and clean, how many have a continuous water supply, how many employ an adequate number of female attendants, and whether users feel safe while using them. Regularly publishing such information should also be part of their responsibilities.As figures published in different reports on the number of public toilets vary, I believe the two city corporations should jointly conduct a comprehensive survey and publish updated information on their locations, capacities, separate facilities for women and men, and overall operational conditions.Strict monitoring is also necessary when the responsibility for operating public toilets is handed over to private organisations. The primary conditions of leasing or management contracts should include cleanliness, safety, an uninterrupted supply of water and essential supplies, and regular maintenance. If revenue generation or the highest lease payment becomes the overriding priority, the public service objective will be undermined. There should be provisions for financial penalties, cancellation of leases and appointment of alternative operators in cases of contractual violations. At the same time, an adequate number of trained female staff should be employed to ensure cleanliness and security.Adequate women-friendly public toilets must be established at important locations throughout the capital, including major bus terminals, railway stations, launch terminals, hospitals, educational institutions, markets, parks, recreational centres and other places with large public gatherings. The provision of public toilets could be made mandatory when approving new urban development projects. Existing facilities should also be renovated in phases to meet the required standards. In particular, the number and capacity of toilets at public transport hubs and locations where people are required to spend extended periods should be determined with women’s specific needs in mind.In this context, the ‘Anannya’ women-centred public toilet introduced at Mohakhali Bus Terminal in Dhaka with the support of WaterAid is a positive example. Such initiatives have given importance to separate toilet facilities for women, a safe environment, sanitary napkins, breastfeeding spaces for mothers and disability-friendly facilities. The experience gained from this initiative should be used to expand similar facilities to other important locations across the capital. However, one or a few successful initiatives cannot resolve the overall crisis. What is needed is a well-planned expansion of such facilities throughout the city.In my view, imposing excessive fees for using public toilets is also inappropriate. The state has a responsibility to ensure free or nominal-cost basic sanitation services, particularly for low-income women, street children, students, workers and economically disadvantaged people. Turning a service closely connected to public health and human dignity into a profit-driven business would be contrary to humanitarian principles. If necessary, the operating costs can be covered through city corporation budgets, government grants and responsible private-sector partnerships.The government should establish national minimum standards for the construction and operation of women-friendly public toilets. These standards should cover cleanliness, adequate water supply, soap, lighting, ventilation, privacy, security, menstrual health management and accessibility for persons with disabilities.Every public toilet should be required to display telephone and mobile numbers for lodging complaints, provide complaint and suggestion boxes, identify the responsible personnel and display cleaning schedules. Regular inspections and a system for evaluating service quality based on users’ feedback should also be introduced.Citizens also have responsibilities in this regard. They should keep public toilets clean after use, avoid wasting water, refrain from damaging facilities and inform the relevant authorities about irregularities. However, public awareness and civic responsibility must never be used as an excuse to relieve the authorities of their obligations. The primary responsibility for constructing infrastructure, ensuring regular maintenance and providing a safe environment rests with the relevant government agencies.We must remember that the development of a city cannot be measured solely by high-rise buildings, wide roads, flyovers, metro rail systems or visually impressive structures. The true measure of development is how comfortably, safely and with what degree of dignity ordinary people are able to live their lives. If safe public toilets cannot be ensured for women, many of the achievements of urban development will remain incomplete.Women’s health, safety and dignity are not matters of special privilege; they are integral components of their citizenship rights. Therefore, Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation and other relevant government agencies must immediately adopt a coordinated action plan to address this crisis. Adequate, clean, safe and affordable women-friendly public toilets must be ensured not only in the capital but also in cities and municipalities across the country.A city that disregards women’s basic needs can never truly be modern, humane or inclusive.By Md. Mukhlesur RahmanIslamic Finance Specialist, Economist, Social and Political Thinker, Geopolitical Analyst, and Human Rights Activist