To ensure water for everyone, water sources should be free from grabbing and polluting

Sunday, 22 March, 2015 To ensure water for everyone, water sources should be free from grabbing and polluting Walks for established right to water, Proper planning for water resources and water supply to all citizens with equality and equity are key indicator for poverty reduction, environmental sustainability. Water is most important elements for nature, agriculture, food production, energy, industry, health, urbanization and equality.

Due to unplanned urbanization, pressure to ground water, it has go down under 70 meter. Industries are using water, at the same time, water is polluting due to waste of industries. Speakers told it to rally for established right to water at 11 am on 22 March at Shahbag, in Dhaka, Bangladesh organized to celebrate World Water Day. This rally jointly organized by the BAPA, NGO Forum for Public Health, Nirapad Development Foundation, Sommilito Joladhar Rokya Andolon, Orunodoyer Tarun Dol, Mastul Foundation, BCHRD, SERAC Bangladesh, Youth Coalition for Climate Justice, Pratysha and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust.

This program was presided by Architect Iqbal Habib, acting general secretary of BAPA and moderated by Ziaur Rahman, project officer of WBB Trust. Ibnul Sayed Rana, Chairman of NDF, Mohidul Haq Khan, executive member of BAPA, Mihir Biswas, Coordinator of Buriganga Bachao Andolon, Agriculture Scientist Abdus Sobhan, Mahbul Haq, executive director of BCHRD, Tanvir Al Mamun, member of Mastul, Syeda Anonna Rahman, National Advocacy Officer of WBB Trust were spoke at this occasion. Organizers hold placards, festoons, banners with message of water importance and World Water Day.

Dhaka’s Cannels: Reality and Action Plan

The speakers gave their opinion at a view exchange on “Dhaka’s Cannels: Reality and Plan of Action” in the VIP Lounge of National Press Club, at 11.00 AM in the morning on October 22, 2012. Kazi Mohammad Shees, former Chief Engineer of Dhaka WASA, Iqbal Kabir, Senior Lawyer of Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (BELA), Abul Bashar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman, Executive Officer of Keranigonj sub-district (on behalf of Dhaka District Commissioner, and Abdur Razzaq, Engineer of Dhaka City Corporation were present as discussants in the program while Syed Mahbubul Alam, Director (Program & Planning) of WBB Trust was in the chair. The program was convened by Aminul Islam Sujon, Project Coordinator of WBB Trust. Ziaur Rahman Litu, Project Officer of WBB Trust presented the key note in the meeting.

Awareness Campaign among the Shopkeepers to Keep Clean 34 no. Ward

34 No. Ward Community, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, Safe the Environment Movement (POBA), and Dhanmondi Kochikantha School have organized  awareness campaign among  the shopkeepers to keep clean 34 no. Ward on 12 February 2015 at 11.30 am at Rayarbazar. We have visited around Rayarbazar and we requested to the shopkeeper and vendors on the street to keep on clean the area. We also gave leaflet to shopkeeper.

Clean Dhaka Campaign from 34th Ward of Dhaka North City Corporation area at Mohammadpur.

Urban dwellers throwing cough, waste, used packets, plastic bottles, polythene bags in streets, parks, play grounds, walkway and everywhere. This unhealthy practice makes nasty to neighborhoods.  While clean city increase neighborhoods status and provide healthy lifestyles.

31 December 2014 at morning, speakers made above opinion while they inaugurated clean Dhaka Campaign from 34th Ward of Dhaka North City Corporation area at Mohammadpur.

The clean Dhaka campaign jointly organized by the Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust, Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA), Dhanmondi Kochikantha School, Dhaka Ideal Cadet School, Chinnomul Government Primary School, Mohammadia Alia Madrasa, Alif Ideal Public School and Podatic. Neighborhoods of this word willingly joined with the family in this campaign.

clean neighborhood can build a healthy society. Everyone should care about the areas where they live. If all citizens ensure to make our locality clean, then whole country will be clean at a time. This is not just start of Clean campaign; we hope everyone will keep this oath to maintain environment friendly locality.   

we everyone is responsible for environment and development of our country. So we should play active role to make city and country better.

We recommendation to all City Corporations to ensure waste basket after every 100 meters and waste should removed everyday from these waste baskets. Organizers also informed that, this is just start. Gradually this clean Dhaka campaign will shift to throughout the city.

International Women Day 2015 Celebrated Tamak Birodhi Nari Jote (TABINAJ)

Tamak Birodhi Nari Jote (TABINAJ) is the first anti-tobacco alliance of women in Bangladesh which has taken up anti-tobacco campaign to save women, men and children from the hazards of tobacco. It is against smoking and use of smokeless tobacco products which are mostly consumed by women. The Alliance is against tobacco cultivation and use of women and child labour in the hazrduous biri industry. Tabinaj is actively lobbying for Law Amendment of the Tobacco Control Law for its effective implementation. Tabinaj member organisation are working in over 43 districts of Bangladesh. 

Tamak Birodhi Nari Jote (TABINAJ) has organized a demonstration campaign on international women day 08 March 2015 on save women,men and children form tobacco. I have attended  demonstration  campaign. Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust one of member organization of Tamak Birodhi Nari Jote (TABINAJ). 

39 shop owners motivated to remove illegal tobacco ads.

Shop owners remove illegal ads

Youth volunteers ride cycle to remove ads 

Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust has organized cycle rally and awareness campaign at Dhakmandi in Dhaka city area to remove illegal tobacco ads from POS (point of sales). Shop owners are motivated to remove illegal tobacco ads from POS (point of sales). February 14 2015 youth volunteers group of anti-tobacco activist has run a motivation campaign to removed tobacco ads from POS. Total 39 shop owners are voluntary removed ads from their shops.

Youth volunteers preparing to ride cycle to motivate to remove illegal tobacco ads from shop 

International Women Day 2015 rally at Dhaka, Bangladesh

Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity. National Girl Child Advocacy Forum organised International Women Day 2015 rally on 07 March 2015 at National Museum to Engineer institute Bangladesh. Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust has participated the rally.

 State Minister of Women and children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki has inaugurated the rally. Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust is a one of member organization in the forum.

City Corporations should ensure quality public toilets

To consider urban citizen’s health and environment of city, all city corporations should ensure public toilets each of public places with free of cost for people. However, there should be safe, separate and comfortable toilet for children, women and physically challenged people. Then only state can ensure equity and dignity of women to reduce sanitation related harassment of women.

Green and public activist demanded separate toilet system for women in a demonstration in front of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) building at Gulistan. On the occasion of UN World Toilet Day (19 November 2014) celebration; this demonstration jointly organized by 11 environmental and public health organizations including Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA), NGO Forum for Public Health and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust.

In addition of this, during this demonstration program in front of DSCC; a delegation team led by renowned environmentalist and Founder of environmental movement in Bangladesh, Mr. Abu Naser Khan met with Md. Anser Ali Khan, Chief Executive of DSCC.

Abu Naser Khan requested to DSCC for ensure public toilet for women and physically challenged people each of public places at Dhaka.  Md. Anser Ali Khan confirmed delegation team to consider demand by the activists and will take necessary step to ensure safe and separate public toilet for women in particular.

During demonstration presided by Hafizur Rahman Moyna; Chairman of Nagorik Odhikar Songrokkon Forum (NASOF), and moderated by Ziaur Rahman Litu, project officer of WBB Trust. Renowned Environmentalist Abu Naser Khan; Chairman of POBA, Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam; Director of WBB Trust, Joseph Hawalader; Chief of Advocacy Cell of NGO Forum for Public Health, Ifma Hossian; Secretary General of PEACE, Md. Musa; President of Debidar Ghat Samaj Kolyan Songsod, Advocate Nirupoma; Secretary of Bangladesh Open Labor Organization and Md. Mahbul Haque; Executive Director of BCHRD were spoke.

Environmentalist Abu Naser Khan said that; as per POBA observation; most of public toilets are not secured for women. Inside of public toilets are not clean, no enough lights; often water crisis are regular incidence. So this weakness should notice by city authority.

Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam said; it is legal obligation for City Corporation to ensure public toilet for citizen at city areas.

Public Toilet Situation in Dhaka City by Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust

Public toilet facilities one of the major problem in Dhaka city. Specially women and physically challenged people are suffering a lot due to unsafe and unhealthy public toilets. Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust has made the video on public toilet situation in Dhaka city.

importance of women’s household work

The household work performed each day by women is vital to families, societies, and nations. It is time to recognize the contribution of women. We need to add women household work in our national economy. Celebrating the international Women day 2015 WBB Trust has organized demonstration program on  importance of women’s work. Above 350 people have attended the event. We also making a documentary film about that issues. 

Free toilet should ensure every public places and commercial buildings

The local government including City Corporation, Pourashova, Upozila Porishad and Union Porishad should take responsibility to ensure free healthy toilets at every public places and commercial buildings in Bangladesh. Particularly, toilets are not enough at cities and existing toilets are not useable as most of toilets are not clean and comfortable. Meanwhile, these toilets are not safe for women and physically challenged people. So people; mostly women drink less water and it causes different kind of physical problem. Even; most of women avoid public toilet even if it is necessary for them. As a result, they suffered lot.

Speakers mentioned above in a discussion titled “importance of public toilet: current situation and what needs to be done”; organized by Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA) and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust at POBA office in Kalabagan.

This meeting was presided by Dr. Lenin Chowdhury; member secretary of POBA healthy food movement and Mr. Ziaur Rahman; project officer of WBB Trust presented written keynote paper. Renowned Environmentalist Abu Naser Khan; Chairman of POBA, Engineer Abdus Sobhan; Ex-Additional Director General of Department of Environment, Hafizur Rahman Moyna; Chairman of Nagorik Odhikar Songrokkon Forum (NASOF), Aslam Khan; joint secretary of POBA spoke at this meeting. The meeting was moderated by Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam; Director of WBB Trust.

Ziaur Rahman said in his paper that; about half of people are women and about 10% people are physically disabled. But in reality, there are no public toilets for physically challenged people and not enough toilets for women at Dhaka and all over the country.

Environmentalist Abu Naser Khan said that; each city corporation have sanitary inspector; but they are not monitoring public toilets. As per POBA observation; most of public toilets are not secured for women. Inside of public toilets are not clean, no enough lights; often water crisis are regular incidence. So this weakness should notice by city authority. Engineer Abdus Sobhanrequested government for ensure public toilets for hawker, homeless person and movable people as most of them have no facility for toilet.

Dr. Lenin Chowdhury said; toilet and sanitation system are symbol for quality of life to any nation. Due to lack of proper toilet system; couple of stomach related diseases; including typhoid, dysentery, jaundice are occurrence. So; to reduce these diseases, we should ensure healthy, environment friendly, clean and comfortable sanitation system everywhere in Bangladesh.  

Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam said; it is legal obligation for City Corporation to ensure public toilet for citizen at city areas. Each year, City Corporations spent thousand crore of Taka and how could citizen accept that they can’t manage public toilets? It is totally unaccepted. However, if people have to pay for using public toilet, so why people should pay tax to City Corporation? He suggested to monitor and ensure public toilet by City Corporation themselves rather providing lease to private.

 

Among others, Abul Hasnat, president of Modern Club of old town, Rehana Zaman Chowdhury of FUARA, Maruf Rahman of WBB Trust were spoke in open discussion.