MENSTRUATION, once shrouded in silence, stigma, and taboo, has now gained global recognition as a critical human rights concern. This shift in perspective has highlighted the fact that menstrual health is not just a hygiene issue. In Bangladesh, a nation striving for gender equality amidst its development journey, the pursuit of dignified menstrual health for all is fraught with persistent challenges.
In 2005, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF introduced the concept of menstrual hygiene management. By 2022, the Human Rights Council had established a connection between menstrual hygiene and menstrual health. This broader understanding embraces the physical, psychological and social dimensions of menstruation, demanding access to information, education, products, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services, empathetic care and an environment free from shame and discrimination.
Attaining menstrual health, as defined by global health and human rights bodies, is a multifaceted endeavour. It involves ensuring individuals have access to accurate, age-appropriate information, supportive facilities and affordable materials for body care, timely diagnosis and treatment for discomforts, a stigma-free and respectful environment and a taboo-free mindset, allowing them to fully participate in all aspects of life without being excluded or discriminated against due to menstruation.
This complex issue is intrinsically linked to a range of human rights, including access to water and sanitation, dignity, health, education, equality, sexual and reproductive rights, labour rights and participation in public life. Furthermore, addressing menstrual health directly contributes to several of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Bangladesh has taken commendable steps to embed human rights principles within its governance. Its Constitution mentions gender equality (Articles 19(3), 27, 28, 29), health (Articles 15, 16, 18(1)), non-discrimination (Articles 12(d), 28, 29(2), 38(b)), participation and inclusion (Articles 11, 19(3), 23, 23A, 37, 65(3)), and sustainability (Article 18A).
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare oversees the health of women and girls, as well as the availability, accessibility, quality and affordability of menstrual products, often working in conjunction with the Ministries of Commerce and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Children鈥檚 Affairs and the Directorate of Family Planning, focuses on education and awareness. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives is responsible for providing water and sanitation services.
Effective menstrual management depends on access to and use of safe water, safely managed sanitation and hygiene services, as well as the availability of affordable products. Government circulars even encourage the establishment of separate water, sanitation and hygiene blocks for girls and boys in schools. Policies also aim to ensure access to safe water and sanitation services at an affordable cost, including public latrines in schools and public places and to expand access for all.
Educational policies play a pivotal role in promoting menstrual hygiene management. These policies aim to make menstrual hygiene management culturally and socially acceptable, free from stigma and taboo. National strategies focus on developing sanitation facilities that integrate menstrual hygiene management and support strategic leadership for a national platform, ensuring that everyone is informed and aware of the importance of menstrual hygiene management.
In schools, government circulars have mandated the installation of improved, gender-separate toilets in secondary and higher secondary schools, including waste bins, soap, and water for female students. These circulars also had a vital stipulation: female teachers should discuss menstruation with female students and ensure sanitary napkins are available.
In the workplace, while the National Menstrual Hygiene Management Strategy 2021 notes that water, sanitation and hygiene facilities are often not gender-friendly in most governmental offices 鈥� lacking proper maintenance, soap, bins and washing facilities 鈥� they aim to ensure menstrual hygiene management facilities are accessible in all settings, including workplaces, prisons, industries and commercial spaces.
Educational programs, sometimes in collaboration with international partners, aim to provide school-based programmes on menstrual management. National strategies also seek to strengthen menstrual health education in school curricula for both boys and girls, as well as for students who have dropped out of school. In health institutions, national strategies also seek to ensure accessible menstrual hygiene management facilities and equip healthcare outlets to provide services in 鈥榳oman-friendly units.鈥�
The affordability of menstrual products and sanitation facilities remains a significant challenge. While products need not always be free, economic reasons should never deprive anyone of dignity or participation in daily activities. Menstrual products are essential items, and therefore, should ideally be classified as such for tax purposes to avoid value added tax and become more affordable.
There are limited laws or regulations in Bangladesh specifically ensuring the affordability of menstrual products. Although tax exemptions on raw materials for sanitary napkin production were intended to improve affordability, their actual impact hinges on manufacturers passing those cost savings on to consumers. Concerns have been raised that these tax cuts may have primarily benefited a dominant company, but VAT is still being charged.
What鈥檚 needed is a cohesive, rights-based approach: clear legal frameworks, sustained investment in infrastructure and product access, rigorous quality standards, and inclusive public education. By treating menstrual health as a core issue of dignity and justice, Bangladesh has the chance to set a powerful example in the region 鈥� and beyond.
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Fayazuddin Ahmad coordinates the Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management platform in Bangladesh.