Railways ministry signs MoU with WaterAid to provide hygienic toilets for passengers

The Ministry of Railways and WaterAid Bangladesh on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), under which the latter will provide technical support for improving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services for passengers.

According to the MoU, WaterAid will focus on the construction and management of public sanitation facilities at railway stations to ensure better services for passengers and general people, said a press release.

The non-governmental organisation will construct and demonstrate safe and hygienic public toilets in the capital’s Bimanbandar Railway Station.

It will also support the horizontal learning among the railway staff to expand the public toilet and WASH services at other stations.

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan was present as the chief guest in the signing event at the Bangladesh Railway Bhaban in the capital.

Hasin Jahan, Country Director of WaterAid Bangladesh,  Dhirendra Nath Mazumder, director general of Bangladesh Railway, Md Salim Reza, secretary with the Ministry of Railways, Santanu Lahiri, Senior Decentralization Wash Specialist, among others, were present at the event.

According to the press release, inclusive public toilets will be built outside the railway station to cater to the needs of women, men, children and persons with disability.

The public toilets will have male and female chambers. Each female chamber will have a female attendant.

WaterAid has already constructed and has been managing 42 public toilets in different strategic locations across the country, including Dhaka North and South City Corporation to ensure safe and modern public toilets for everyone.