The road to travel domination started in 2015. Fast forward three years, Pathao has altered the mindset of how Dhaka city commutes. What initially began with 100 drivers, now has a fleet of over 500 with 300,000 users. The motorcycle is no longer the unsafe sight of eye rolls; it is the convenient way, dependable and economical way to get from point a to b. Meet the CEO of Pathao, Hussain M Elius, as he elaborated upon their start of Pathao’s trip and how they have merged the highways of tech and travel.

A Concept is Never Set in Stone
Two years ago when we started brainstorming about the biggest challenges we faced in Dhaka - we realized that there are two major problems - load shedding, and traffic. We could do nothing about the former, so we looked into the everyday commute. Before we even started Pathao, we tried solving the transportation problems with different tactics- one was a CNG hailing app knows as Jaben. We did not have the same leverage because smartphones were not so densely used; so we went to a phone call based solution. It was followed by a carpooling service which also did not do very well. Long story short, the Pathao app that everyone uses today was not the thing we started our journey with. It is something that was born after many experiments.

Embrace Every Attempt
It took some failures for us to realize what would work and what would not work. A pipeline of ideas helped us come to the current service. We continually iterated on the idea of starting something, monitoring its progress and moving on to the next endeavor if our product did not work. We embrace our failures as an opportunity to learn and develop. Whenever an attempt became a failure, we would dissect it into lessons learned, and contemplate on how we can use the learnings and the technology to develop something better.

The Only Success is That There is None
We used our ability to iterate fast to our advantage. We maintain a culture that asks us to consistently push the team and the organization to do more. We have a new number to hit every week, and the new goal to hit every quarter, and we allocate resources to every effort to strive for that measure. The day you believe that you are successful is the day that you will think that there is nothing more to do. That mindset is harmful because the competition never rests - and it gives others the space to catch up. Every day is a new day.

When the Solution is not There, Create it
Our most significant success was not creating a new technology - but rather a new category of transportation. Creating a category of “motorcycle sharing” was particularly tricky as Dhaka was not a motorcycle friendly city in comparison to others in the region. The culture of sharing rides or taking a motorcycle was not perceived to be safe. Before Pathao, the city had a preconceived notion that motorbikes were unsafe. Furthermore, people in Bangladesh are not very open to the idea of apps in general. Things have changed since then.

A potential colleague is not defined by their background; it is their portfolio that speaks volumes. If they have the Pathao mentality, accompanied with passion and drive, we consider them to be an asset to the company. 

Being a Visionary Paves the Way
At first, people were not used to using any app beyond a few social networks like Facebook. Once Pathao gained momentum, we observed a few changes coming around us. First, many people were buying smartphones because they wanted to use the Pathao app. When you address a massive problem and find a viable solution, the market will find the way to reach out to that solution. We started with getting our first orders through phone calls and Whatsapp followed by a secret Facebook group- but all of those were not sustainable or scalable. All of these mediums entailed a middleman for operations and would take 10-15 minutes before we could confirm a service. An app allowed for an immediate response. We started informing people on the Facebook group that they would have to use the app and stopped taking orders from anywhere outside of the app. At first, it created a lot of friction for customers who were used to giving orders - and changing their mindset wasn’t easy. However, we considered that in the long run how much the customers would gain through the app. We are now running both on Apple and Android phones, and the implementation of the app created much greater access and ease to customers and drivers alike.

Expand Your Service, Stay True to Your Vision
When we started Pathao, we knew that our app would be built for the masses. This led to the concept and execution of Pathao Food. We are in the process of incorporating more restaurants and will have over 3,000 restaurants in by the end of March. We have more than six to ten times the number of restaurants than our competitors. We have targeted the segment of the of the market that the current players have ignored. In the socioeconomic context of Bangladesh, ordering lunch for Tk. 300 to 400 is not feasible on a daily basis. We have smaller restaurants like Star Kebab or CP because ordering a biryani for Tk. 100 is a much more reasonable solution for a meal. We have decided from the beginning of the company that would not serve a niche but one that is accessible to everyone.

Quality is Not Up for Negotiation
We have the general approach to a business where continuous feedback is used to weed out bad drivers or customers. You will have bad customers who will decrease the platform experience for the drivers as well. In this regards, our rating service provides a data-driven solution. When a first-time driver or customer is using the app, we do not have any data points. Once they start exhibiting consistent behavior - we could develop a pattern, and can choose to fix it or remove the problem. Hypothetically, if one customer infers that a driver is reckless, that may not be an accurate estimation of the drivers’ skill because that’s just one data point out of, say, 100. However, if we see that these experiences are consistent and 20 to 30 customers are drawing the same conclusion, then there are more data points to say that yes, the driver is in fact very reckless. This feedback allows us to grow while the quality can be controlled.

Mindset: The Foundation for Growth
People from various educational backgrounds bring their unique skill set. For example, Shifat Adnan, our Co-founder, and CTO, comes from an engineering background, and his contributions and insight in that aspect are very immediate and more specialized. When you grow to a large organization such as ours, the challenges propagate downwards. Individuals from different backgrounds bring insight; one person may be able to draw from their understanding of organizational behavior, while another adds knowledge regarding accounting or object-oriented programming. Starting a company requires many generalists who can do everything. But growth requires specialization.

Nevertheless, we hold a person’s ability to execute and their problem-solving mentality with the utmost priority. We recruit everyone - whether they may be dropouts, current students, and those with degrees, not according to academia but their inherent abilities. A potential colleague is not defined by their background; it is their portfolio that speaks volumes. If they have the Pathao mentality, accompanied with passion and drive, we consider them to be an asset to the company.

Amidst Political and Humanitarian Predicaments, Bangladesh’s Turning Point in 2018

Could you elaborate upon the diplomacy situation of the Rohingya crisis? Do you believe it is a diplomatic success or failure?
It is too early to decide as to whether this is a failure or a success. Until we see the repatriation of these people, we cannot make such prediction. In such cases repatriation also entails that these people are entirely securely situated back to the Rakhine. These people will go back indeed, but the question is when and how long will this take. This exodus is also different from the ones that took place in the 70’s and 90’s, which, save a few thousand, ended with the repatriation of the bulk of them. But this time there is a global recognition that some form of ethnic cleansing, crime against humanity or genocide took place. The repatriation of the Rohingya community must include the right to citizenship with security guaranteed by the state. This time the Rohingya issue is no longer a bilateral issue between Bangladesh and Myanmar, it is an international issue, mainly because of the atrocities committed by the Myanmar military. Pressure is already building on Myanmar to assure that these refugees are not returning to the same situation they were in earlier. Bangladesh certainly cannot forcibly send these people to Myanmar. Myanmar must ensure that the Rohingyas have rights when they return, and this could be done by enacting new laws or ordinance guaranteeing such rights for the Rohingyas, including making explicit the process by which the Rohingyas would be granted citizenship in Myanmar. Also, there is a need for the presence of the UNHCR and other international agencies in places where the Rohingyas would be temporarily ‘camped’ following their repatriation. Only then they would feel secure and would be willing to join in the repatriation.

Bangladesh has developed new relations with a few countries, Turkey being amongst one of them and will this be beneficiary for Bangladesh? What is Turkey’s interest in this case among a few other nations that have expressed?
We have to first look at the current situation from a broader perspective; we are a developing country housing 1.1 million refugees. Furthermore, Bangladesh is now housing the 5th largest refugee population in the world. This crisis has earned the Bangladesh government global recognition and appreciation for handling the situation professionally and efficiently. We had the backings of the European Union and a large number of countries of Asia and Africa after a long time. India abstained though from the vote, and only nine nations voted against our position.
In addition to this global support, we also had the help of some of the countries, including that of Turkey, for socio-historical reasons. The first one being that the Rohingyas are Muslims. One must not forget that the Turks ruled Bengal for 500 years, so they have a historical attachment to the population of this region. Turkey has now emerged as a major Muslim country inclined to increase its influence within the Muslim Ummah. Earlier the Turkish Ottoman Empire was part of a more prominent civilization, which contributed to the building of the Islamic world. The Turkish Ottomans and the Mughals, who were Chagatai Turks, were both Hanafis, and this led to the proliferation and dominance of the Hanafi mazhab (school of thought) in South Asia. Unlike the Hanbalis/Wahhabi/Salafis/Saudis, the Turks have always seen themselves as global players and thus, historically supportive of the Rohingya cause.

“The repatriation of the Rohingya community must include the right to citizenship with security guaranteed by the state. This time the Rohingya issue is no longer a bilateral issue between Bangladesh and Myanmar, it is an international issue, mainly because of the atrocities committed by the Myanmar military. Pressure is already building on Myanmar to assure that these refugees are not returning to the same situation they were in earlier.”

How will Bangladesh be a beneficiary of this attention?
The Father of the Nation had it outlined in seven words: “Friendship towards all and malice towards none.” I think both the society and the state are quite knowledgeable enough to know the consequences or what could result from the Rohingya exodus. Bangladesh has opened itself to all nations, except Israel, for helping the Rohingya refugees. The Prime Minister of Turkey, Binali Yıldırım, has already visited Bangladesh and this visit has succeeded in overcoming the misunderstandings or misgivings between the two countries regarding the war crime trial. By welcoming Turkey’s participation in the Rohingya refugee crisis, Bangladesh has helped bridge the communication deficit between the two countries. Furthermore, Emine Erdoğan, Turkey’s First Lady, visited both Myanmar and Bangladesh several times. I recall her speech at a conference in Istanbul where she was moved to tears when speaking about the plight of the Rohingyas in the Arakan province of Myanmar. If nothing else, this awareness created space for better communication between the two countries.

With the citizen registration or the Assam population, it is estimated that 1.34 million people could be stateless and moved into Bangladesh. Should this be a growing concern for our nation?
I do not think that this a matter that concerns us gravely. This decision is part of BJP’s politics for years and India’s domestic politics. The bulk of the Bengalis residing in India’s north-east are from West Bengal, a fact that is known to both India and Bangladesh. Our per capita income is much bigger than those of the north-eastern states of India, in specific categories of the Human Development Index Bangladesh is in a much better position than India’s. So, whatever economic gains one would attain in earlier times by crossing the border to India is no longer there. Mamata Banerjee has also made it clear that she will side with the Bengalis in the north-east region. It is a domestic issue of India, and not something between India and Bangladesh. At the same time, however, we should remain alert to the situation, but it is evident that India has the matter under control.

The US has expressed this keen interest in helping Bangladesh with regional safety issues. For example, the rise is extremism which is recently happening. What measures do you expect from the country in 2018?
This issue is primarily a matter of having a negative image. If you look at the 2017 World Terrorism Index, we are not even in the first 20; whereas three South Asian countries are in the first 10. Afghanistan is third, Pakistan is fifth, India is eighth, and Bangladesh is 21st; we are even behind Thailand and the Philippines.
However, you never see anyone saying that they are not going to visit Bangkok. The subtext behind Dhaka is very different. We have neighboring countries that are competing for investments, and the negative image could redirect such investments to newer locations. We have to overcome this dystopian image. Even if you look at the US, it is far more violent and the number of civilians being killed by firearms is much higher. This was evident at a recent concert in Las Vegas, but you do not see the city stopping its every function or the public insisting that they will not visit. What has happened in Gulshan’s Holey Artisan is incredibly tragic, but one or two such incidents are making Bangladesh ‘unsafe’ is not fair. We also do not know how to handle terror attacks. For example, the police checkpoints at the entrance of Gulshan are not the answer. We are in the age of globalization and technology. In fact, we are in the age of iWar where ‘checkpoints’ have to be built not on the roads and highways but in the cyberspace.
I recall going to Ankara 48 hours after a massive terrorist attack in their downtown region, killing nearly 300 people. I was expecting the conference to be canceled however my hosts, primarily officials working in security think-tanks, informed me that they were ready and the city was functioning. Their logic was that counterterrorism is about “not letting the enemy know where you are.” The police checkpoints and other physical security measures make the ‘terrorists’ know exactly what to do! We should focus on the safety of the population without intimidating them. Our government has a deficit in this regard, and it must take better measures to safeguard the population at the local or street level. The most definitive example of this is London. The city has experienced many attacks but remains the most-visited in the world. If you are going to project a negative image of yourself, you are further inflating the idea of insecurity. It is the time that we start welcoming people from other countries and provide them some of the lessons that we have learned over the years in dealing with some of the problems facing the world. The work of our NGOs, particularly in empowering women, for instance, is commendable and a model that can be replicated elsewhere. Unfortunately, such good practices never get highlighted or made into a foreign policy tool by the government.

You said countering terrorism is not acknowledging it and image. Are there any other solutions that you would propose for this image?
I have stated this for years; you need to make the country festival-friendly. We should not limit the festivities to the winter months. Bangladesh is the seventh largest nation in the world, literally a cultural powerhouse of 160 million people. Once you expand the cultural practices within and beyond the cities and make them regular your streets, and eventually the country become safer and more open. You have a better nation when you give people a creative outlet catered to their own culture; it provides them recreation, purpose, and identity. An example of this is the month of Ramadan. You will see the roads of old Dhaka teeming with people who are there to eat sehri at dawn. Hundreds and thousands of people are out in an unusual time and safety, or ‘insecurity’ is not an issue. I am sure you will also see that the level of crime during the month of Ramadan, particularly in Dhaka, decreases. The way is to have faith in the people, bring them to the streets, colorfully, in a festival mood every month. Then I believe we will be able to counter intolerance and terrorism more efficiently.

The previous election years were ones that changed the course of the nation. What are your predictions for the upcoming election?
Two can easily be flagged. One, all parties will participate in the coming national election. And, I guess, because of this, the world, including some of our neighboring countries, will be looking at the election very closely. Unlike the last election, this time all the major powers will keep a distance from the election. Participation by all the parties will also result in a substantial turnout of voters on the election day.
Two, there will be more intra-party than inter-party contestation and violence. There may be several candidates from the same party. And each of these parties must decide who they will choose to represent them. It is too early to say how this will play in politics. But I think within the next four or five months we will know. The nomination will start getting fixed by that time. Indeed, we will know what kind of conflicts there will be and how each party will handle them. So a big task for the political parties this time will be how to have a single candidate who can lead the party to victory and get the maximum support from the constituency. But it looks like all the political parties are aware and have started working on that.

Previous elections have led to inconsistencies in the GDP and the DEP. We have graduated with a 7% increase for the first time. How do you think this will change during the election year?
There will not be much of a change. There is an intriguing contradiction that our politics and economics are heading in the opposite direction. Politically, we may have a deficit, but when it comes to economics, we have a surplus. By ‘surplus,’ I mean, 7% growth, which is quite a lot and it is one of the countries now globally recognized as a fast-growing economy, and there is a lot of attention that we see from different countries of the world. It can have a higher growth provided we have a peaceful election, which would certainly attract more significant investments. But then you must be very careful because if that comes about the question would be whether our governance is ready to absorb more significant investments. Our governance is still weak in many respect; we need to work on that. Secondly, there is also an issue with external actors because there is a competition and some of the external actors may think differently and may try to take advantage of it. We need to be watchful about this competition.

Will there be a remarkable shift in the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and its development partners?
I do not believe that it will. For example, our relationship with China should continue and not because this party or that party wants it. This relation has more to do with the size of China’s economy, and it is only 90 kilometers from Bangladesh. We forget that it takes only 2 hours to go to Kunming and this is evident with the number of people traveling between the two countries. The re-rise of China is now apparent, of course, one must keep in mind that in the eighteenth century China was the largest economy in the world. Undivided India, on the other hand, was the second largest. At the same time, suspicions and misgivings between India and China that are portrayed in the media can be nullified when you see the number of Indian students traveling to China. For the first time, more Indian students are going to China for higher studies, particularly in pure sciences, than the UK. Many will tell you that it is because education in China is cost-effective, but given the demand for pure sciences, globally as well as nationally, the quality of science education in China must be commendable. Otherwise, why would so many Indians decide to go to China; this will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the relationship between the two countries in the coming decades.
Finally, the very issue of One Belt One Road (OBOR). Since Bangladesh is a member of OBOR and the latter is nothing less than a Marshall Plan, there is no reason why we should not participate and make best of it. Critics would say that what is the guarantee that we would not end up in a debt trap. But the point is since it is mainly investment in infrastructure, which is so visible, any shortcomings would result from our intellectual limitations and misgovernance. A greater focus ought to be given to rectify the latter. We want bridges, roads, and airports, but other nations will not do these calculations for us. We must see what kind of infrastructure would bring an economic upliftment for the people.
It is not only Bangladesh which is a member and which wants to engage with China. About 60 countries have already joined the OBOR initiative. I am quite sure that India too would devise a plan of its own and take benefits from the OBOR initiative, maybe without officially calling it so! This is because it makes so much economic or business sense, not joining would be to deny the forces of capitalism and globalization. It’s only a matter of time. In fact, such a plan is already there. India and China have a $100 billion trading regime, with China now building a fast-track or bullet train in India. So my argument is that there is no reason why Bangladesh should not go ahead with the kind of relationship that this government already has with China. Infrastructure development will only help the entire region. If we have Padma Bridge or a seaport, for example, neighboring countries will also benefit.

What is your remark regarding political unrest due to the election year?
There will be some public or noisy pronouncements of agitation. Do not take things seriously when you read matters in the newspaper; there’s much more going on behind the scene. I cite Bill Clinton’s famous statement when it comes to political hype, “It’s the economy, stupid!” At the end of the day if you can make a better living standard, if you can bring more significant investment, if you can create opportunities for more profits, people will line up. And that is what I think Bangladesh needs very quickly. Politicians understand this very well because ultimately that is what guarantees them votes when credible and participatory elections are held.

Technology that can create a lasting impact

Amongst the rows of makeshift plastic tents on hills, Hasin Jahan witnessed actions that have helped reduce acute humanitarian crisis. “Around 1 million people are living in this densely packed dismal condition. I realized that since there was no significant chaos or health-related incidences like cholera outbreak, the role of the organizations working there in uplifting the conditions of the people was immediate and effective.” The reality of the situation dictated that provisions for basic needs such as water, hygiene, and sanitation (WASH), health interventions be available though not adequate.

Hasin understands that these provisions are necessary, but during an emergency response, the long-term effect is not apparent until later. “Many organizations have constructed water points and toilets and provided necessary nutrition for the displaced Rohingya community. However, with time these interventions also create their own set of problems.” Hasin and her team at Practical Action decided to focus on the problems that come with sanitation, especially Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) in Ukhiya. Hasin explains that sludge management is integral to protect the environment and ensure better water quality. “The major problem with these toilets is that they fill up quickly. When they do, they overflow and contaminate the already dwindling water sources and spread communicable diseases. A recent survey from the Inter-Sector Coordination Group (ISGC) found that almost 80% of the water is contaminated with E. Coli. This condition not only reduces the availability of safe water, but it also exacerbates the prevalence of water-borne diseases. Sludge is the major contaminant. Therefore, managing it leads to better water quality and a safer environment.”

The most significant challenge was to tailor technology for the fecal sludge management in the hilly terrain of Ukhiya. Hasin elaborates, “The primary challenge was to design an appropriate context-specific treatment plant. Given the space constraint and other factors like consideration of heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides, we have devised an over ground elevated treatment facility in this context.”

Moreover, Practical Action is training the sanitation workers who clean the latrine. Hasin and her team ensure that these workers follow a strict health and safety protocol, “Our sanitation workers wear gloves and use safety equipment during cleaning task to ensure safety.” Practical Action works synergistically with other I/NGOs and organizations to create a healthier environment. Hasin understands that additional support is integral in the bigger scheme of the matter, “When you provide a displaced population with any support that is a tangible element, you have to understand that the matter is sensitive. They may not feel a sense of ownership over what they are given. In their minds, they are convinced that these are temporary measures and they will be released from such a situation at any time.”

The universal desire for a better life struck Hasin during her recent trip. She experienced the resilience of humanity during her visit, “I met a woman whose husband and son was killed in front of her. When I entered her room at the shelter, I noticed that she had made a mud stove, a mortar and pestle out of rocks, and a small washing area in the corner from mud and bricks within her room. Hasin reveals that is was a very private moment that remarkably moved her, “She also made an overhead shelf that had 2 cooking pots, and they were her only possession. The gravity of the situation impacted me when I understood that she still had that desire to build a home and a family.”

She cites that everything starts with educating any population about the facilities and what little they can do to maintain them, “You have to instill the population with a sense of self-management even in such conditions. If you think about this in the context of toilets in the area, the larger problem is that they do not clean the toilets or wash their hands properly after they have used these facilities. This practice leads to undesirable conditions, and the next person does not want to use the toilets. As a result of this practice, we find that open defecation is becoming an increasing problem and further contaminating the environment.” This practice and training apply to another context as well. Hasin points out that the same type of education is necessary for used plastic, “There is an increasing amount of plastic waste that is accumulating in the area because they are given food in packets. Because they do not know how to handle the plastic, it accumulates, and it is not biodegradable. This deposit of plastic eventually becomes a vessel that retains water and creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes.”

Filtration chamber of the Faecal Sludge Management Unit

Practical Action strives to create improved conditions through simple technologies. Hasin expounds that simple technology can create a difference, “I was particularly concerned with how some of the camp-dwellers were cooking in their tents. If one of those tents were to ignite, it would start a fire that would rapidly spread to a vast area in a matter of moments. Attention should be given by the concerned organizations.” They are now planning to demonstrate a temporary safe cooking facility to support community attached to a bio-gas plant. The plant would use anaerobic digestion to increase the efficiency by creating gas out of fecal waste management. Hasin is positive about this pilot initiative in Ukhia and Teknaf, “We have received a space to start our project. The idea is that the plant will generate gas for a community kitchen. This facility will give the people of that particular area a safe space to cook.”

Hasin is planning to create plastic recycling units in the area, “I watched children in the area playing with plastic bottles as toys. It inspired me to think outside the box like these children. I want to make alphabet blocks and other toys out of the plastic. If there is a mini recycling plant that could make something out of this plastic, it would not only reduce the pollution but also provide toys the children in these communities can play with.”

Intervention is not the only focus according to Hasin. She points out that many social issues need to be addressed, “A host community may feel deprived when they see the extent of relief coming from the refugee community. Even the existing camps are suffering from influx within their locality. I visited the Leda camp and noted that the living condition is deteriorating due to overuse of the existing infrastructure because the population almost doubled with an inflow of people.”

In a crisis, organizations must act fast, and that does not always ensure quality. Hasin understands that comprehensive understanding and proposition is not always possible, “We were not prepared for the sudden influx, and functioning parties have worked their best in emergency relief. During our recent meeting with the actors working there, it has been suggested to assess the gaps that exist and then plan accordingly to extend support to the Rohingya population. It is expected that a more comprehensive plan will only come forth after.”

Faesal Sludge Management Unit

INNOVATING TECHNOLOGY FOR A CRISIS
A conventional fecal sludge management unit (FSM) is not sufficient during an emergency crisis where such a dense population is isolated in such a small space. Typical septic tanks in the camps in Ukhiya are not suitable to handle the waste of the growing population. Furthermore, the hilly terrain, lack of skilled labor, and weather condition create further challenges.
Hasin Jahan illustrates the dynamics of the fecal sludge unit that has been designed to ensure the safe management of the waste in the emergency situation in Ukhiya, “Practical Action has built fecal sludge management units that use upflow filtration technology. A series of filtration unit separate solids and liquid. The solid portion is raw fecal sludge which is denser; it is collected at intervals and buried in burial pits where it is covered with sand envelopes that contain lime to ensure safe management. Over the period, the buried sludge convert into compost, and if needed, the compost can be excavated and the same pits can be reused. The liquid portion undergoes a series of filtration units and pollutants are absorbed by constructed wetlands with Canna Indica plants.”

THE COMPONENTS OF AN FSM UNIT

Dumping Chamber:
The sludge from toilets are mostly emptied using motorized collection equipment like a super sucker or any other centrifugal pump and then dumped into the dumping chamber (300 liters). The unwanted materials are screened from the disposed of sludge in dumping chamber. The sludge enters into the first filtration chamber of the fecal sludge management plant through gravitational flow. The valve at the bottom of the dumping chamber regulates the flow of sludge into the filtration unit.

SOLID-LIQUID SEPARATION CHAMBER:
Each filtration chamber is made of a steel structure with waterproof tarpaulin fitted inside the structure with a capacity of 5 cubic meter per day. Graded filter materials are placed inside the chambers. Each filtration chamber contains valves at its exit to control the outflow of sludge and effluent at different elevations. An intricate system creates interconnected chambers in the filtration unit.
The sludge flows through the filtration units following ‘upflow system.’ The solid portion of the sludge gets trapped at the bottom of the chamber while the liquid portion rises through the filter media and flows to the next chamber.

CONSTRUCTED WETLAND:
‘Constructed wetland’ is a kind of shallow trench with Canna Indica plants over a stone bed to absorb pollutants naturally. The bottom and sidewalls of the trench are lined with waterproof tarpaulin to avoid contamination by any seepage. The capacity of this chamber is at least 6 cubic meter. While the effluent passes through the constructed wetland, the microbial contents inside the effluent form gelatine and the roots of the plants reduce the pathogenic organisms. Finally, the effluent is collected and tested in the laboratory to confirm parameters for discharge in surface water bodies.

BURIAL PIT:
The burial pit has been constructed using locally available RCC rings of having a maximum depth of 7 feet depending on the groundwater level of the site. Each pit contains sand envelop of 4 inches which acts as filter media at the outer periphery and the bottom of the pit.
The thickened sludge in the first chamber gets emptied every week and buried in the adjacent pit having sand envelop with lime. The same process takes place in the remaining filtration units but the rate of deposition is very slow, and therefore burial of thickening sludge will be infrequent.
Overall, the efforts of the development community and I/NGOs like Practical Action has created a fundamental level of controlled fecal sludge management system. Given the intensity and pressure of people living in the Rohingya community, the efforts are minimal. A more inclusive and forward-thinking approach can enable the community to overcome the challenges that they are facing. The efforts of the international donor community have been phenomenal as has been the support of the government. Hasin believes that with time the challenges will be overcome and a more supportable environment would help these distressed people.