Experts and public representatives at a discussion have stressed the need for creating awareness among the students to ensure safe drinking water and hygienic sanitation facilities in every household. They made the observation at the post-rally discussion held on Kick UCEP Rangpur City Corporation School premises in the city on Monday afternoon in observance of the World Toilet Day-2018.

Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC) organised the rally and discussion with assistance of the Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) programme, Bangladesh.

The speakers urged the students and low-income urban communities to ensure use of pure drinking water and sanitary latrines to improve hygienic health and sanitation practices at every household for building a healthier nation.

The Eco Social Development Organisation (ESDO) is implementing the programme under its Sustainable Urban Wash project to ensure pure drinking water, hygienic sanitation and sewerage systems for every citizen in Rangpur city by 2020.

Earlier, a rally with participation of students and teachers of the school, public representatives and officials of RpCC and WSUP Bangladesh was brought out on the city streets.

A quiz competition on use and importance of sanitary latrines and leading hygienic life was also arranged for students on the school premises and prizes were distributed among 40 winners.

With female city councilor from reserved Ward Hasna Banu in the chair, City Councilor (Ward No-23) Sekendar Ali, Representative of WSUP Bangladesh Gopal Chandra Dhar addressed the discussion as the chief guest.

Headmaster of the school Joynal Abedin, Supervision Engineer of WSUP Bangladesh Zikrul Haque, Head of the Conservancy Division of RpCC Shahinur Rahman addressed as special guests.

Project Manager of the Sustainable Urban Wash project of ESDO ATM Ruhul Islam discussed procedures and importance of using hygienic latrines, relations between sound health and using hygienic sanitary latrines, pure drinking water and maintaining cleanliness, including washing hands before taking foods.