It is disappointing to learn that, despite a 25-percent increase in the allocation for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in the proposed budget, the most essential facilities remain inaccessible for too many people nationwide. A recent policy brief by the Power and Participation Research Centre (in collaboration with WaterAid and WASH networks) highlights major shortcomings and disparities in WASH services. Reportedly, at least 29 percent of the urban population and 52 percent of the rural population lack access to safe drinking water. In terms of sanitation, 41.8 percent of households lack improved, non-shared sanitation facilities. The most alarming figure is that around 98 percent of Dhaka city’s population is not connected to the sewerage system and must instead resort to on-site disposal methods, thereby explaining the polluted state of water bodies in and around the capital.

Ensuring water safety, proper sanitation, and hygiene are all foundational to maintaining good public health. How is it that Bangladesh has consistently failed on that front for decades? Experts, for one, point to a significant urban-rural gap in WASA’s service delivery. In the proposed budget, the WASH sector was allocated Tk 13,618 crore, of which the state-run agency is to receive Tk 6,673 crore—almost half the whole WASH budget. Of this, Dhaka WASA alone has been allocated Tk 5,010 crore. So, when viewed through the lens of government priorities, the urban-rural gap in the state of WASH facilities begins to make sense. There are also longstanding allegations of corruption against the sanitation agency and its former leadership, which have resulted in multiple project delays over the past decade and an inertia in WASH development.

Budget allocation, of course, plays a role in how much a sector can be improved. But the evidence indicates blatant and ongoing misuse of funding for the WASH sector in Bangladesh. Only a couple of days ago, the prime minister stood in parliament and reassured us that the government is working to increase the use of surface water in divisional cities. It is encouraging to know that the government is aware of a significant WASH issue, such as depleting groundwater sources. But this awareness must translate into action across relevant government sectors, and not just be limited to parliamentary speeches. One estimate suggests that at the current pace of WASH progress, it could take 75 years to ensure safe water across Bangladesh. The terrifying reality is that this is likely not an exaggeration. Improving WASH services must be a top priority for the government. Without deliberate efforts and genuine progress for this sector, public health remains under constant threat.