ITN-BUET, in collaboration with the Civil Engineering Division of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), conducted a three-day Professional Training on Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for Engineers from 11 to 13 October 2026.
The training was designed to provide engineers an introductory and practical overview of the major components and dimensions of WASH. It aimed to strengthen their professional understanding and their capacity to engage effectively in the sector. Over the three days, sessions covered Bangladesh’s WASH scenario, policy and institutional framework, urban and rural water supply, urban and rural sanitation, hygiene and behavior change, climate-resilient and inclusive WASH, WASH in emergencies and the role of engineers in achieving safely managed and sustainable WASH services.
Mr. Alauddin Ahmed, Project Manager, ITN-BUET, facilitated two sessions: “Understanding WASH: WASH Systems and Safely Managed Sustainable Service Delivery” and “Bangladesh WASH Policy and Institutional Framework.” The sessions introduced participants to the basic of WASH services, the principles of safely managed services, the national policy landscape and the roles and responsibilities of key institutions involved in WASH service delivery.
Mr. K. A. Amin, Knowledge Management Specialist, ITN-BUET, facilitated a session on “Hygiene, Behaviour Change Communication and Community Engagement.” He emphasized that sustainable WASH outcomes depend not only on well-designed infrastructure but also on community participation, effective communication and sustained behaviour change. Ms. Faria Tasnim, Training Specialist at ITN-BUET, coordinated the overall training and facilitated active participant engagement throughout the sessions.
The training also brought together a distinguished panel of resource persons from leading sector institutions, including, Engr. AKM Ibrahim, Retired Chief Engineer, Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE); Engr. Habibur Rahman, WASH Specialist, IsDB; Engr. A. H. M. Khalequr Rahman, Superintending Engineer, DPHE; Engr. Israfil Hossain Akanda, Deputy Project Director, Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA); Engr. Dilruba Farzana, Deputy Project Director, DPHE.
Engr. Md. Nesar Uddin, Secretary of the Civil Engineering Division, IEB, appreciated the initiative and expressed interest in future collaboration to strengthen professional capacity development in the WASH sector.
The training concluded with a final evaluation, an open discussion on the role of engineers in WASH, and certificate distribution. Participants reflected on their learning and expressed their commitment to applying the knowledge gained in their respective professional fields.
The initiative forms part of ITN-BUET’s broader capacity-building and knowledge-sharing efforts to strengthen the WASH sector in Bangladesh. Through collaboration with professional bodies such as IEB, ITN-BUET seeks to reach a wider community of engineers and strengthen their capacity to plan, design and manage sustainable water supply and sanitation services.
