In a country where access to clean water remains both a human right and a daily struggle, a quiet but powerful conversation unfolded this week at the 2nd Sustainable Water Management Expo. The event, hosted by the Bangladesh Water Works Association, brought together government officials, researchers, and development partners to discuss a question that sits at the heart of urban sustainability: how can technology make water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services more inclusive?
The session, co-organised by WSUP and ITN-BUET under the theme “Innovation to Inclusion: Technologies Transforming Urban WASH,” drew an audience of practitioners, academics, and policymakers seeking solutions that are as equitable as they are innovative.
“Technology is only as meaningful as its reach,” said Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman, Professor at United International University, who delivered the keynote address. His presentation traced the current landscape of WASH technologies in Bangladesh from digital monitoring tools for water utilities to decentralised sanitation systems and examined how these can be adapted to serve low-income urban settlements often left behind by conventional infrastructure.
The discussion that followed was as candid as it was hopeful. Mr. S. M. Mostafa Kamal Mazumder, Commercial Manager of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA), joined the panel to share on-the-ground perspectives from utility operations, describing the daily balancing act between expanding access and maintaining service quality in one of the world’s fastest-growing megacities.
Panellists from DPHE, UNICEF, ITN-BUET, WSUP, DAIKI AXIS Ltd., and United International University echoed a common sentiment: that inclusive WASH services cannot rely on technology alone. They must be anchored in governance reform, community participation, and capacity building at every level of the service chain.
The challenge beneath the surface
Bangladesh’s urban centres, home to more than 40% of the country’s population, are under mounting pressure. Rapid migration, ageing infrastructure, and the intensifying impacts of climate change are straining water supply and sanitation systems that were never designed to serve such density.
In low-income settlements across Dhaka and Chattogram, residents still rely on shared water points or informal connections, while wastewater often goes untreated. According to the World Bank, one in three urban households in Bangladesh lacks access to safely managed sanitation.
These systemic gaps are precisely where WSUP has positioned its mission. In Bangladesh, WSUP has been partnering with utilities, city authorities, and private-sector actors to strengthen service delivery and expand affordable access to water and sanitation for marginalised communities.
At the Expo, Abdullah Al Mamun, WASH Lead at WSUP Bangladesh, highlighted this collaborative model:
“We work at both ends of the system, supporting utilities to become more efficient and financially resilient, while empowering communities to engage as informed customers. Innovation is not about new tools; it is about transforming relationships between service providers and the people they serve.”
His remarks reflected WSUP’s broader philosophy: that sustainability in urban WASH emerges not from isolated pilots but from systemic strengthening. When utilities are equipped to extend services to last-mile consumers, and when residents understand the value of water quality and payment discipline, the result is both economic and social resilience.
From innovation to inclusion
The phrase “innovation to inclusion” resonated throughout the session, serving as both a technical and moral framework. Dr. Rahman noted that while Bangladesh has made notable strides in water supply coverage, disparities persist in service quality and affordability. Smart metering, leakage detection technologies, and decentralised wastewater treatment units all hold promise, but scaling them requires policy coherence and financial incentives.
UNICEF and DPHE representatives stressed the importance of integrating gender and social equity into the technological discourse. Women and children, they noted, remain disproportionately affected by unsafe water and poor sanitation, particularly in informal settlements where contamination risks are highest.
Panellists agreed that inclusion must be designed into innovation, not added afterwards. This means involving communities in decision-making, ensuring affordability of new technologies, and building trust between providers and residents.
Looking ahead
WSUP’s work in Bangladesh has already yielded tangible outcomes. Partnerships with the utilities have introduced customer engagement systems, improved non-revenue water management, and supported small-scale entrepreneurs in sanitation services. Beyond infrastructure, WSUP has invested in behavioural change programs and gender-inclusive planning to ensure that solutions endure.
As Dhaka prepares for another decade of urban growth, events like the Sustainable Water Management Expo serve as critical touchpoints, where ideas converge, partnerships form, and the blueprint for inclusive urban resilience takes shape.
For the participants at this year’s session, the message was clear: technology can illuminate the path toward universal water access, but only collaboration can carry the light to every doorstep.