Toilet, now euphemistically called washroom by smarter urban people, has unfortunately not matched the linguistic ascendancy in its improvement in practical terms. Public toilets in this part of the world have ever been in a shambles. The very concept of putting in place adequate number of facilities where people can respond to emergency call of nature in a decent manner is still eluding the authorities. Some mobile toilets are stationed at a few strategic points of the capital. But although they serve people in dire need of relieving themselves, they cannot be a substitute for washrooms. Unsurprisingly, a large number of people are forced to respond to short call of nature on roadside or against walls in full view of the public or passers-by. Quite a few spots are infamous for such open urinals, where the liquid waste overflows the footpath and sends pedestrians reeling from strong ammonia stinks. The very act performed by male members becomes particularly embarrassing for their opposite sex using the road. This is disgraceful at its worst.
Bricks or slabs of footpaths and road railing bars in this capital are replaced within a few years giving them a completely new look when, in fact, those required scanty repair. All this is done in the name of development. When expenditure of a very insignificant amount would have done, a project is fabricated at an enormous cost. Right now this type of unwarranted development work is going on involving the footpath between Shahbagh and Matsyabhaban. The segment of footpath behind the secretariat at the Purana Paltan intersection has been completed. It is a double-edged razor that makes the exchequer bleed in both ways. Once the near intact footpath is dislodged and the fine bricks removed and this task alone continues for months. Then earth is levelled once again and sands spread before laying a concrete cover. Finally, bricks of a different shape are laid on it.
Who says, the authorities have no money? If they have so much money to spend on footpath refurbishing, do they have not the minimum responsibility to spare the public of the disgrace on account of the absence of public toilet? Admittedly, the few parks this capital boasts saw the construction of some excellent washrooms. A few of those used to maintain a high standard primarily. The charge for their use is high but there is nothing to complain if one finds the facilities in such an excellent order. However, the problem here is that in all such cases the standard cannot be maintained for long. But if one is willing to take a positive lesson from this, it is that a little extra effort can indeed take care of decent maintenance.
So much for the public toilet or washrooms, what about such facilities in schools, colleges, universities and offices. Sure enough, some improvement has been made in many of the private organisations and institutions so far as such facilities are concerned. Years ago, one of the frontline business houses used to bring out a weekly English magazine. Housed in its head office, it was run by its skeleton staff under its highly capable editor. But for its staff members, responding to call of nature was a nightmarish experience. The entire floor of the toilet was submerged with a pool of excreta, urine and water. It was impossible for any decent person to negotiate the accumulated human waste.
This sounds unbelievable. But take the case of the washrooms at the Teachers Students Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University or for that matter those in its Arts Faculty. Nauseating stinks assail one's nose literally from miles and a visit to such facilities would leave one wondering if things are on course of retrogression. So awfully repulsive is the condition of the toilets for gents that one would curse oneself for making a visit there. In no way does the condition make the premier university proud. There is every reason to be ashamed of if an alumnus finds that the condition has deteriorated further than when he was a student way back. One wonders if the condition of the ladies' section is any better. What if a friend unfamiliar with such wretched condition either from a private university or from abroad wants to use the TSC's wash room or DU's toilets!
This unhygienic and dreadful condition is not a monopoly of the DU. Most schools, colleges and other organisations can claim similar credit. This nation certainly deserves better. The system must go radical transformation to match its transition to an elevated status. Only collective will and effort can pull it out of this abominable toilet culture.
Abominable toilet culture
Nilratan Halder | Published: February 06, 2016 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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