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If walking is beneficial for health, it is certainly not for walkers opting for the length stretching from Hatirjheel-Modhubagh intersection to the Moghbazar wireless junction in the city of Dhaka. They are sure to confront two major obstacles. The first one is several makeshift shops on both sides of the spacious street that connects the two intersections. Street vendors have occupied different parts of the street, making it difficult for walkers to move smoothly. The second one is some open spots for public urination, mostly on the east side of the street from Modhubagh to Moghbazar Wireless Point. The widest spot of such short nature's call is just opposite to the BTCL School in the area.
It is a highly disgusting sight that several people, mostly rickshaw pullers and street vendors, can so unashamedly go for this deplorable practice. Earlier, there was a narrow drain on the east side of the street adjoining the boundary wall of the BTCL staff colony. So, urine passed through the drain. After repairing the street with wider underground pipes, the drain was blocked. Now, people use the joints of the street slope and wall causing a pool of human liquid waste there, sending foul odours and polluting the surrounding. School children, teachers and guardians are the regular victims of the unhealthy environment. There is also a big mosque only a few meters north-east from the spot. But the problem of unhealthy practice continues unabated.
Such unsightly scenes are not confined to this area alone. Dhaka, like many other cities, is grappling with the problem of public urination. When an increasing number of men use side walls in different areas for this vulgar practice, it creates not only health hazards but also tarnishes the city's image. It's important to note that only males go for this practice of open urination.
Many argue that the absence of public toilets is a major reason behind this practice. The number of public toilets in Dhaka is indeed very limited, and most are dirty and unhygienic. This forces millions of people to struggle to find a suitable place to urinate. However, this is a problem that can be solved with the provision of more and cleaner public toilets. Even many offices, shopping centres, hospitals, educational institutions, and bus terminals can contribute to the solution by providing adequate and hygienic toilet facilities.
An increased number of floating people in the city is another reason why the incidence of relieving oneself in the most unlikely places is rising. These people move here and there in search of work and, finding no option, urinate wherever they can.
Bad practices can cause serious health hazards. If an individual has a urinary tract infection, the bacteria present in their urine can be transmitted to others, leading to illnesses due to urinating in the same places. Urine also creates a breeding ground for bacteria. This becomes particularly concerning as the presence of urea in urine attracts flies, insects, and cockroaches, which can further spread bacteria. These insects easily transmit bacteria to food and water, heightening the risk of contamination and illnesses.
Interestingly, public urination is a common phenomenon in South Asia, especially in different big cities in three big countries: Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. India is infamous for its high rate of open defecation (more than 10 per cent), followed by Pakistan (around 6.0 per cent), as per the World Bank statistics. So, the high prevalence of open urination in India is not surprising at all, and the same is also true for Pakistan. Bangladesh cut down the rate of open defecation close to zero around a decade ago. It is sad that the success praised globally has been undermined by the rising trend of open urination.