With the support of LEVI’s and WaterAid Bangladesh over a period of three years, SAJIDA Foundation has been implementing a project since July, 2016 to improve access to safe  water, improve sanitation facilities with hygiene promotion for garments workers. A recent study suggested that access to water and sanitation and waste management are among the most significant factors affecting the socio-economic status of garment workers in Bangladesh.
At the same time, BGMEA and BKMEA have set standards for compliance in factories, including ensuring safe water and sanitation for factory workers. From this backdrop, this project aims to address the existing challenges of increasing access to WASH facilities to improve the health status of 12000 garment workers and indirectly reaching an estimated 21000 family members in Savar and AshuliaUpazila of Dhaka where significant number  of the garments workers lives.
After conducting an  intensive need assessment of the garments workers, a project launching workshop was arranged at SavarUpazila on 4th January, 2017 where relevant stakeholders from GoB, DPHE, NGO’s, representative from garment factories and representatives from the house owners were present. The  objective  of this event  was to share the future strategy with action plan of the project. The participants shared  their valuable opinions to make this project   more effective and pragmatic. The event was graced with the presence of , the chief guest, the  Honorable Member of Parliament, Seat  19, Alhaz Enamur Rahman and special guest was Md. Liakat Ali PhD, Director, Program and Policy Advocacy of WaterAid. Mr.  Md. Fazlul Hoque, Director of SAJIDA Foundation presented the project goals and activities followed by an open discussion.    All the participants showed their commitment to support the project activities and supplement and complement each other for the greater benefits of improving the WASH situation of garments workers.
Monaemul Islam Sizear &
Md. Moksadul Alam