20th November, Dhaka: World Toilet Day, a global observance introduced by the United Nations to highlight the importance of safe sanitation.
To honour the day, Harpic Bangladesh organized a special event at a city hotel to raise awareness about sanitation and hygiene, as well as to recognize the vital contributions of sanitation workers across the country.
The program brought together distinguished academicians, experts, and representatives from government, non-government, and private organizations to discuss the current landscape and future priorities of Bangladesh’s sanitation sector.
The event began with a keynote speech delivered by Dr. Abdullah Al-Muyeed Ph.D on “World Toilet Day and Sanitation Workers.” In his address, he highlighted the essential role of sanitation workers in protecting public health, outlined the key challenges within the sector and stressed the practical solutions; including the responsibilities corporates can undertake to support and strengthen this vital workforce.
He ended his address by noting that the toilet is more than a fixture for relief; it is the sanctuary of sanitation and hygiene.
A 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 session was moderated by Md Rakib Uddin, External Affairs Manager at Reckitt Benckiser (Bangladesh) PLC.
During the discussions, the panelists highlighted the importance of strong collaboration between the public and private sectors, noting that only through joint efforts can the country ensure safe and hygienic sanitation facilities for all.
One of the key attractions of the event was the unveiling of three new chapters of Harpic’s new edition of the comic book “Dipu–Tushi’s Hygiene Adventures.” Through this book, children will be able to learn easily about personal cleanliness, toilet cleanliness, and healthy living in a joyful and interactive way. The aim of the book is to build long-term hygiene awareness among children. Along with the book, Harpic has published the “Dipu–Tushi’s Hygiene Adventure” cartoon series to teach children across the country about the importance of hygiene in a fun and engaging way.
Furthermore, Harpic Bangladesh and SAJIDA Foundation also announced plans to expand their joint initiatives by supporting an additional 2,000 sanitation workers and their families, in collaboration with the City Corporations.
The program concluded with an overview of Harpic Bangladesh’s activities over the past year, reaffirming the brand’s strong commitment to improving overall cleanliness and sanitation standards nationwide.
Sabrin Maruf Tinni, Head of Marketing at Reckitt Benckiser (BD) PLC, said:
“World Toilet Day reminds us that sanitation is a fundamental human right. Harpic is proud to contribute to raising awareness in rural communities, providing hygiene education in primary schools, supporting sanitation workers, and helping underprivileged children learn about hygiene. We will continue to move forward with impactful initiatives to improve public health across Bangladesh.”
World Toilet Day is observed every year on 19 November. The day aims to highlight the global need for safe sanitation and supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 — ensuring access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene for all by 2030.
