UCLG ASPAC Municipal Network Advocacy on Sanitation in South Asia (MuNASS) Programme recorded various activities such as learning visits and symposiums organised and implemented with the great collaboration of various partners.
Learning Visit by MuAN and ENPHO in Bangladesh
January 30, 2024 | Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN), Environment and Public Health Organisation (ENPHO), and Municipal Association of Bangladesh (MAB) visited Sakhipur Municipality of Bangladesh to learn in detail regarding City Wide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) and its impacts. Six Mayors from Nepal including UCLG ASPAC Co-Chair and Mayor of Neelkantha Municipality Mr. Bhim Prasad Dhungana; General Secretary and Mayor of Ghorahi Sub Metropolitan City Mr. Narulal Chaudhury; Mr. Dilli Raj Joshi, Mayor of Amargadhi Municipality; Ms. Sushila Shahi, Mayor of Lamkhichuha; Mr. Keshav Kumar Shrestha, Mayor of Buddhabhumi Municipality; Ms. Bandana Pandey, Deputy Mayor of Palungtar Municipality; MuAN Programme team members were among the learning visit.
Mayor Abu Hanif Azad of Sakhipur Municipality received the delegates with warm greetings and made a presentation on how Sakhipur became a model of CWIS in Bangladesh. It is to be mentioned that Sakhipur Municipality achieved the UCLG ASPAC Sanitation Excellence Award in December 2023 and received the award at Yiwu UCLG ASPAC Congress. Delegates also visited the co-compost plant and learned about the end-product of the Faecal-Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP). Mr. Kamrul Islam, Secretary of Sakhipur Municipality facilitated the learning sessions in Sakhipur. Mayor Azad also handed over a courtesy packet of co-compost to UCLG ASPAC Co-Chair and MuAN President Mr. Dhungana.
City Wide Inclusive Sanitation National Symposium
January 29, 2024 | Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD&C) of Bangladesh Mr. Md. Tazul Islam, MP, vowed to implement the National Action Plan for Sanitation within 2030. He also committed to extending all required support from Government to all municipalities in Bangladesh for visible results in achieving SDG 6.2.
Mr. Islam spoke as Chief Guest at the CWIS National Symposium, organised by MAB in Dhaka with the support from UCLG ASPAC MuNASS Programme. More than 130 participants from the development sector, journalist, and students from Gender Studies of Dhaka University, participated at the Symposium.
Mayor of Panchagar Municipality Ms. Jakeya Sultana urged all concerned to ensure women-friendly public faecal toilets are available in cities. Mayor of Lalmonirhat Mr. Rezaul Karim, also Executive Member of UCLG ASPAC presented the recommendations for data management study for ensuring real-time data reflection of progress towards SDG 6.2. Ms. Sushila Shahi, Mayor of Lamkichuha presented the regulatory support developed locally for a better sanitation service in her city. Mr. Md. Akhter Hossain, SDG Principal Coordinator of the Prime Minister’s Office of Bangladesh focused his sharing on utilising local resources with best efforts to achieve SDGs by 2030.
UCLG ASPAC Sanitation Excellence Award Winning City Mayor, Mr. Abu Hanif Azad of Sakhipur Municipality in his presentation shared how the institutional commitment and teamwork made the Sakhipur a model city for CWIS.
Ms. Kamrun Nahar, Deputy Director of NILG has presented the updates of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Module for local government functionaries which have been incorporated with the support from MuNASS and MAB.
Mayor Mr. Bhim Prasad Dhungana, in his speech as Guest of Honour of the programme, emphasised on regional collaboration for sharing learning, new technologies, innovations and experience to foster the progress towards achieving SDG 6.2.
Mr. Kalanidhi Devkota, Executive Director of MuAN, and Mr. Shafiqul Hassan, Co-Chair, CWIS-FSM Support Cell in Bangladesh presented the keynote from Nepal and Bangladesh and highlighted the Landscape, Progress, and challenges of CWIS. Mr. Shamim Ahsan Chowdhury, Project Manager of MuNASS also highlighted how UCLG ASPAC promoted good practices through engaging association leaders for cross learning and sharing good practices.
MAB President Mr. Dewan Kamal Ahemed presided the programme and urged to stakeholders for result based collaboration. Mr. Khalid Hossain, Secretary General of MAB in his thanking speech made appeal to private sectors, financial institutions, research organisations to support cities for sustainable achievements. MAB Policy Advocacy Officer Ms. Prottasha moderated the programme.
