Mapping Sanitation and Hygiene Conditions in Bangladesh: Identifying Vulnerable Districts through Regional Delineation

Abstract

In Bangladesh, not everyone yet has the same access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Things have gotten better over the years, for example, more people now get safe drinking water and improved sanitation services. But these improvements haven’t reached all areas equally. Some regions are still behind, which causes health problems like diarrhea and breathing infections, which are still major reasons why many children in the country get sick or die. This study focuses on the variation of the sanitation and hygiene situation all over Bangladesh. It focuses on five important indicators, including whether people have hand washing facilities with water and soap, access to better toilets, and whether waste is being properly managed and treated elsewhere. The data came from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and were analyzed using the Composite Weighted Index method. Then SPSS and GIS tools were used for spatial classification into six categories. The analysis shows that Bandarban is the most vulnerable district in terms of sanitation and hygiene status, followed closely by Rangamati. These districts got the lowest overall scores due to limited accessibility, poor sanitation infrastructure. Both are hilly, remote districts with challenging geography that restricts infrastructure development and service delivery. However, many urban and lowland districts benefit from better infrastructure, easier access, which results in higher sanitation and hygiene scores. The variation between vulnerable and better-performing districts highlights the urgent need for region-specific approaches. Targeted efforts in Bandarban. Rangamati and similar districts should support community-led initiatives that fit the local culture and needs.