BSS, Rangpur:

Access to safe drinking water and hygienic sanitation facilities is significantly improving the health of char dwellers living in the Brahmaputra basin, leading to a drastic reduction and in many cases, total elimination of water-borne diseases in ten riverine districts of northern Bangladesh.

Dr. Syed Samsuzzaman, Chairman of the Northbengal Institute of Development Studies, said this success has been made possible through effective awareness programs implemented in collaboration between government and non-government organizations.

“Today, people in the char region understand the vital importance of sanitary latrines and clean drinking water for a healthy life free from water-borne diseases,” he said.

About 15 years ago, poor sanitation severely affected public health in the char areas, with diseases like diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, and jaundice posing serious risks — especially for vulnerable groups such as pregnant and lactating mothers, children, and adolescents.

“In the past, the lack of basic sanitation meant bleak futures for sick mothers and children,” Dr. Samsuzzaman added.

The prevalence of water-borne diseases and related deaths has now dropped to zero, marking a significant improvement in the health status of char communities.

A key factor behind this achievement is the comprehensive 12-year Chars Livelihood Programme (CLP), implemented from 2004 to 2016 with support from donor agencies and the Government of Bangladesh. The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives sponsored the initiative to improve the livelihoods and living conditions of char residents facing adverse climatic challenges.

Md Mamunur Rashid, PhD Fellow at Dinajpur Haji Mohammad Danesh University of Science and Technology and former Senior Coordinator of Agriculture and Environment at RDRS Bangladesh, said that around 500,000 CLP beneficiary families now enjoy hygienic sanitation and access to pure drinking water.

“The CLP has not only helped char dwellers adapt to climate change but also improved their health conditions remarkably,” Rashid explained.

Beneficiaries from char villages across Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Bogura, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Pabna, and Tangail districts have reported significant improvements in their living standards due to better sanitation and water facilities.

Housewives from Rangpur’s Gangachara and Kawnia upazilas — Amena, Mariyam, Sultana, Anjuara Begum, and Kobita — shared stories of how access to clean water and hygienic latrines has transformed their families’ health. Similarly, Mahbuba, Shabana, Aklima, Farida, and Kohinoor from Kurigram’s Chilmari and Roumari upazilas noted that water-borne diseases have now disappeared since they adopted improved sanitation practices.

Dr. Mohammad Gousul Azim Chowdhury, Rangpur Divisional Director of Health, said that the improvement in health indicators in char areas is now comparable to those on the mainland.

He affirmed that government efforts continue to advance towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, ensuring better health and well-being for all.