The New Nation - Internet Edition

Tania Sultana

Nearly 70% of the population of our country use sanitary latrine and 30% of them defecate in the field. Indiscriminate defecation may cause water-borne, food-borne and soil-borne diseases such as typhoid fever, dysentery, diarrhea, cholera, viral hepatitis A, amoebiasis and amkylostomiasis. The 70% population use the following latrines- bore hole, dug well or pit, water-seal, septic tank and chemical closet latrine.

But at present the new concept of latrine in our country is the ECOSAN-LATRINE which is also known as Eco-toilet, a environmental friendly latrine. In this latrine the human excreta and urine are not disposed which can be used fro the agricultural purposes. ECOSAN-LATRINE has two compartment, one fro urine and another fro stool collection. In this latrine the stool goes on one way and the urine goes another way. In stool discharging compartment no water is used.

When the stool's drum becomes full then it is carried to a particular site where these are composed. Then it is preserved for 6 month. After 6 month the stool became a compost fertilizer which can be use in agricultural purposes. The urine also stored in a water free container. The urine tank is shifted in another tank where water is mixed with this urine at the rate of 1:10 (Urine:Water) which is used as fertilizer. By using chemical fertilizer, the soil is losing it's fertility and as result it is becoming barren. As a soil conditioner we can use the compost fertilizer which is originated from Eco-toilet.

When we use usual latrine then we have to think about it's cleaning facilities and also think it's excreta storing septic tank. When the stools of the tank is discharged into water bodies it cause harm to the environment. Besides most of our population live under poverty line, they can not use sanitary latrine and their uncontrolled excreta dumping can causes harmful effect to the environment. But the concept of Eco-toilet is completely different. It does not create any harm to the environment. It is not available yet. But because of environmental safety we should use Eco-toilet and this facility should be provide among poor people and the farmers. The utilization of this toilet has started in Comilla in our country.

Moreover, the NGO named BASA (Bangladesh Association for Social Advancement) which is situated at Shibbari in Gazipur has taken intiatives for marketing the project of Eco-toilet. Simply Eco-toilet is economically feasible, it's building materials are available and cheap and it is environment friendly. It can be used by everyone. So we should use such toilet for our safe and sound environment.