78.62pc sanitation coverage achieved

"Proper maintenance of latrines, which have already been set up, should be ensured and at the same time quality of those to be set up in future should be checked seriously," he said at a programme where 583 officials of district and upazila level and engineers of public health and engineering department and representatives of paurasavas and union parishads were honoured.

Each of them were conferred a crest and certificate for achieving the goal of 100 percent sanitation in three districts, 27 paurasavas, 43 upazilas and 464 unions during a period from July 2005 to March 2006.

Earlier, the government gave special allocation to 14 paurasavas, 25 upazilas and 482 unions as a recognition of their achievement of 100 percent sanitation by June 2005.

Speaking as chief guest at the programme at Osmani Memorial Hall in the city the LGRD minister said monitoring should be strengthened through taskforce so that the latrines that become inoperative are replaced in time and nobody uses open space for defecation or urination.

"Innovation of sustainable technology is an imperative for wetland areas and tea gardens," Bhuiyan said, adding special emphasis should be given on the overall hygiene and waste management.

Bangladesh is now at the second position after Sri Lanka in South Asia in case of sanitation, he said, adding sanitation coverage was 78.62 percent until June 2006, which was 72 percent until March this year and 33 percent in 2003.

"This is a tremendous success," the minister asserted.

State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Ziaul Haque Zia said the officials and local government representatives should be sent abroad as recognition to their success in achieving 100 percent sanitation coverage in their respective areas.

"The officials should be given preference in case of promotion," he said, urging the health and family welfare ministry to help sustain the achievements by creating mass awareness on sanitation.

Environment and Forest Minster Tariqul Islam said political will is a must in upgrading the socio-economic status of people. "Achieving the goal of 100 percent sanitation in some of the areas is a bright example of political will," he said.

Recognising the role of the UP chairmen he said thousands of crores of taka will be saved when people will protect themselves from various diseases by using sanitary latrines.

Chaired by SM Zahurul Islam, secretary to Local Government Division, the programme was also addressed by Moezuddin Ahmed, joint secretary to LGD, Paul J Edwards, chairperson of LCG Sup-group, and SMA Faiz, executive director of NGO Forum for Drinking Water and Sanitation.