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The fifth session of SaniTalk Caf\u00e9 was held on 24 February 2026 under the theme \u201cDigital Governance for Sanitation: Introducing IMIS to Municipalities.\u201d<\/i> The session was organized by ITN-BUET in collaboration with GWSC and supported by the Gates Foundation.<\/p>\n
The event brought together 60 participants from municipalities, city corporations, and government institutions, including representatives from Patuakhali, Bagerhat, Shariatpur, Kushtia, Lakshmipur, Cumilla, Sirajganj, Natore, Pabna, Jamalpur, and Narsingdi municipalities, along with officials from the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) and other sector stakeholders.<\/p>\n
The session commenced with welcome remarks by Kazi Amin, Knowledge Management Specialist of ITN-BUET, who emphasized the growing importance of digital transformation in strengthening urban sanitation governance. The session was moderated by Makfie Farah, project manager from GWSC, who presented the background and strategic relevance of the Integrated Municipal Information System (IMIS). Dilruba Farzana, Deputy Project Director of the 10 Towns Project, outlined the IMIS implementation plan, highlighting institutional coordination mechanisms and pathways for scaling up the system across municipalities.<\/p>\n
A key highlight of the session was a comprehensive demonstration of the IMIS dashboard and its modules. Rakib Uddin Ahmed from ITN-BUET provided a detailed walkthrough on how municipalities can utilize IMIS for data-driven urban planning and sanitation management. An animated video illustrating the operational workflow of IMIS was also presented to enhance participants\u2019 understanding of the system\u2019s functionality.<\/p>\n
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During the open discussion, representatives from Lakshmipur and Kushtia municipalities shared their hands-on experiences in operating the Integrated Municipal Information System (IMIS), highlighting both its tangible benefits and the operational challenges encountered during implementation.<\/p>\n
Fazlul Haque, Executive Engineer of Shariatpur Municipality, raised concerns regarding the potential financial implications of establishing separate servers for IMIS. In response, officials from the Governance Support Cell (GWSC) clarified that the system would not require separate physical servers. Instead, a partitioned server arrangement would be adopted to ensure data security and confidentiality while maintaining a cost-effective and technically sound solution.<\/p>\n
Rokunuzaman, Executive Engineer of Sirajganj Municipality, and Ismat Nure Jaman, Programmer at the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), underscored the critical importance of ensuring technical sustainability and establishing robust mechanisms for long-term system management. Their remarks highlighted the need for sustained institutional oversight and technical continuity to maximize the effectiveness of IMIS.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Nurul Kabir, Executive Engineer of Natore Municipality, emphasized the necessity of continuous training and capacity-building initiatives at the municipal level to strengthen local ownership and operational efficiency.<\/p>\n
The Executive Engineer of Patuakhali Municipality proposed the introduction of a self-enrolment feature for desludging services to enhance user accessibility and service responsiveness. In response, representatives from the Governance Support Cell (GWSC) acknowledged that the proposed feature is technically feasible with appropriate safeguards in place. They recommended adopting a hybrid model to balance accessibility and system control, while also stressing the importance of institutionalization, clearly defined standard operating procedures (SOPs), and standardized data validation mechanisms to ensure long-term sustainability and maintain data quality.<\/p>\n
The session concluded with closing remarks by Mr. Alauddin Ahmed, Project Manager of the ITN-BUET, who emphasized that the Integrated Municipal Information System (IMIS) is more than a software platform, it represents an institutional reform initiative requiring sustained commitment, inter-agency coordination, and continuous capacity development. He urged municipalities to assume ownership of the system, invest in human resource development, and ensure regular data updates to facilitate evidence-based decision-making in urban service delivery.<\/p>\n
Mr. Ahmed reaffirmed ITN-BUET\u2019s dedication to providing ongoing technical assistance and knowledge-sharing support to ensure the sustainable implementation and nationwide scaling of IMIS, aiming to strengthen digital governance and improve municipal service management across Bangladesh.<\/p>\n
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