TBT DESK: Bangladesh is hosting the significant Toilet Conference 2025, themed "The Future of Sanitation." This two-day conference commenced today at the Hotel InterContinental Dhaka, providing a global platform for industry experts, academics, policymakers, development partners, and researchers to address pressing sanitation challenges and foster innovative solutions.
Among the distinguished attendees at the inaugural ceremony were H E fertiliser Andre Carstens, head of Mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh; H E fertiliser Nicolas Weeks, ambassador of the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka; Hasin Jahan, country director of WaterAid Bangladesh; Rana Flowers, Representative UNICEF; and Jack Sim Juek Wah, Founder of the World Toilet Organisation. The event also saw participation from various government officials, national & international delegates, representatives from the development and private sector, and journalists from the press and electronic media.
At the first plenary session on innovative technologies and climate resilience sanitation, keynotes were delivered by Juliet Willetts, Prof at the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney, and Emeritus Prof Feroze Ahmed from Stamford University Bangladesh.
And, at the second plenary on Sanitation Financing and Private Sector Engagement, keynotes were delivered by Antoinette Kome, Global Head of Water at SNV, and Anandita Kakkar, Leader of Marketing at SATO (Asia). The event also featured multiple technical sessions concurrently addressing topics such as sanitation financing, climate-resilient sanitation, gender equality, disability and social inclusion, innovative technology, and private-sector involvement.
This conference serves as a unique opportunity for government representatives from the Global South to present their best practices, policy objectives, and developmental strategies in sanitation to a diverse global audience. It underscores the importance of integrating sanitation into broader developmental goals, thus empowering these nations to play a pivotal role in advancing progress.
Convened by ITN-BUET, SNV, UNICEF, and WaterAid, this conference receives support from the Gates Foundation, Kimberly-Clark, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and UK International Development. The platinum partner for the conference is RFL, while BRAC and Practical Action are the gold partners, reads a press release.
Hosting this global event positions Bangladesh as a leader in the sanitation movement, showcasing its commitment to equity, innovation, and sustainability. The conference's insights and recommendations will enrich national and international policies and provide a roadmap for transformative change. As the world converges in Dhaka, the Toilet Conference 2025 stands as a testament to the power of collective action and a call to academicians, practitioners, policymakers, and sector actors to collaborate, innovate, and lead the way toward a future where sanitation is not a privilege but a universal right. The stakes are high, but so is the potential for progress-a future where health, dignity, and sustainability are realised for all.