In a concerted effort to enhance professional capacity in urban sanitation, ITN-BUET organized a three-day training program titled “Training and Experiential Learning on Fecal Sludge Management in Cities: An Element of Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS)” from May 18 to 20, 2025. The event brought together 15 sector professionals (9 male, 6 female) from five key organizations: Institute of Water Modelling (IWM), Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB), Dushtha Shasthya Kendra (DSK), BASA Foundation, and ITN-BUET.
The training was conducted in a hybrid format, combining classroom sessions at the ITN-BUET Seminar Room with a field exposure visit to Faridpur Paurashava, providing participants with a well-rounded learning experience.
Facilitated by experienced sector experts and academics, the training covered a wide array of technical and contextual topics, including stakeholder and context analysis, FSM technologies, service delivery models, occupational health and safety, and social and gender inclusion. Each session was followed by engaging group discussions that enabled participants to reflect on and apply newly acquired knowledge in real time.
A key highlight of the training was the emphasis on operational sustainability and the critical role of social mobilization in effective fecal sludge management. Gender equity and safe working conditions for sanitation workers were underscored as foundational elements of any successful CWIS strategy.
The program was completed by the exposure visit to Faridpur, where participants observed firsthand the operations of the Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP), the co-composting facility, and the use of the locally adapted Gulper de-sludging technology. The visit facilitated valuable interaction with local municipal officials and allowed participants to witness the real-world application of FSM systems discussed during the training.
In the closing session, Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Jalil, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at BUET was present as chief guest. In his speech, he mentioned, “There is an immense potential in our country to combat the global issues we face, so we must focus more on capacitating our national workforce instead of relying heavily on foreigners.” Professor Dr. Rowshan Mamtaz, Director of ITN-BUET, in her speech, reiterated the institute’s commitment to advancing professional capacity in sanitation. “This country is ours, and to ensure safe sanitation in here, we need more people like you who will carry the sanitation journey forward” she added, commending the participants for their active engagement and contributions toward achieving Citywide Inclusive Sanitation and Sustainable Development Goal 6 in Bangladesh.
Certificates were awarded to all participants in recognition of their successful completion of the training.
