DHAKA, Dec 21, 2025 (BSS) – About 95.4 percent of schools and 87.5 percent of healthcare facilities have access to improved water sources.

However, when measured against the definition of basic water service — which requires the improved water source to be located within the premises — the proportion of compliant institutions drops.

Around 86.1 percent of schools and 70.5 percent of healthcare facilities meet this criterion, according to a latest survey of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

These findings of the “WASH in Education and Healthcare Facilities Survey 2024” were released today at a programme held at the Statistics Building in the capital’s Agargaon area.

Secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division Aleya Akter attended the event as the chief guest while BBS Director General Mohammad Mizanur Rahman presided over it.

Additional Secretary Mohammad Masud Rana Chowdhury and OIC, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh Farook  Adrian Doomun were present as special guests.

The survey results were presented by Md Alamgir Hossain, focal point of the SDG Cell, BBS while welcome remarks were made by Director of the Demography and Health Wing of BBS, Md Emdadul Haque.

According to BBS, the survey collected data from all eight divisions and 64 districts, covering government and private primary and secondary schools as well as a wide range of healthcare facilities.

The survey findings said despite significant gaps in sanitation, access to improved water sources appears relatively high.

The BBS noted that financial provision for the maintenance of improved water sources is extremely limited, putting the sustainability of existing systems at risk.

Although 90.6 percent of schools and 98.5 percent of healthcare facilities have at least one toilet, the quality, adequacy and usability of these facilities vary widely.

Handwashing facilities are present in most institutions, but many lack water and soap.

As a result, only 51.7 percent of schools and a mere 5.0 percent of healthcare facilities meet the standard for basic handwashing services, undermining effective hygiene practices and infection prevention and control.

The survey also points to shortcomings in menstrual health management.

Only 20.7 percent of schools have separate, safe and hygienic toilets for adolescent girls, while just 6.9 percent provide basic menstrual hygiene services. Such deficiencies contribute to student absenteeism, discomfort and the persistence of gender-based disparities in education.

Waste management practices also show a different picture. While 78.3 percent of schools reported having appropriate solid waste disposal systems, only 25.4 percent of healthcare facilities meet the basic standards for medical waste management. These standards require the safe segregation, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste.

About 41.6 percent of healthcare facilities rely on open burning of waste, posing serious risks to the environment and public health and underscoring the need for improved infrastructure and safer disposal systems.

The survey further reveals that WASH systems in both sectors are poorly equipped to withstand natural disasters. Over the past 12 months, 24.0 percent of schools and 19.4 percent of healthcare facilities were affected by natural disasters, often resulting in direct damage to water and sanitation infrastructure.

Despite this vulnerability, awareness and implementation of climate-resilient WASH measures remain low.

Only 33.7 percent of schools and 9.9 percent of healthcare facilities reported being aware of protective measures, and an even smaller proportion have actually implemented them.

This gap leaves institutions at continued risk of service disruption and weakens their capacity to cope with future climate-related shocks.

The survey said accessibility for persons with disabilities remains limited. Just 55.4 percent of schools have disability-friendly access to improved water points, while the figure is even lower in healthcare facilities at 40.9 percent.

The report also highlights serious financial constraints. Only 11.1 percent of schools and 34.9 percent of healthcare facilities have a dedicated budget allocation for WASH.

The findings show that only 28.6 percent of schools meet the internationally recommended minimum standard of one improved toilet per 50 students.

The BBS also cautioned that without increased investment, improved planning and stronger emphasis on climate-resilient and inclusive WASH systems, basic water, sanitation and hygiene services in schools and healthcare facilities will remain inadequate, with far-reaching implications for public health, education and environmental sustainability.