Rules & compliance
Dhaka's new sewage rules: what do they mean for your building?
Under the 2025 Building Construction Rules, buildings in Dhaka need a septic tank and soak well, and a sewage treatment plant (STP) where the sewerage network doesn't work. In 2026 the city began acting on it: a scheduled desludging pilot in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketan, and a Prime Minister's directive to install STPs on time.
Why is this happening now?
Most of Dhaka's buildings are not connected to a working sewerage network. In 2021 the managing director of Dhaka WASA said about 80% of residential and commercial buildings in the city had no sewerage system, and that many connected straight to city drains and canals without an effective septic tank or soak well. That untreated sewage ends up in the drains, the canals and the lakes.
What do the rules require?
Under the 2025 Building Construction Rules, Rajuk requires septic tanks and soak wells, and a sewage treatment plant (STP) where sewerage coverage is ineffective.
Which buildings need an STP depends on the building and its location. We don't publish a general rule for it here. Ask for a check of your own building instead.
What changed in 2026?
- July 2026: scheduled desludging. Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) backed scheduled desludging, meaning septic tanks emptied on a set schedule, in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketan. Five private companies were selected for a two-month pilot before the service expands across DNCC areas. Society representatives from the four areas said they would cooperate.
- September 2026: the Prime Minister's directive. The Prime Minister ordered coordinated action to stop sewage flowing into Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Niketan and Dhanmondi lakes. The measures include building-level STPs, making sure STPs are installed within the set timeframe at applicable buildings under the 2025 rules, and a joint Dhaka WASA and DNCC drive to find and disconnect illegal sewer connections to storm drains and lakes.
What can a building owner check now?
- Where does your sewage go? Find out whether your building's sewer line runs to a septic tank, to the WASA network, or straight into a surface drain. A line into a storm drain is the kind of connection the 2026 drive is looking for.
- Is there a septic tank and a soak well, and do they work? Find out when the tank was last emptied, whether it overflows, and whether the soak well still drains.
- Does your building need an STP? Get a building-specific answer, in writing, before you spend money on equipment.
- Keep records. Desludging dates, inspection notes and photos are your proof if the society, Rajuk or DNCC asks.
How we help
Our compliance check covers all four questions. Our engineers inspect the septic tank, soak well and sewer line, and tell you in writing what your building needs. If a retrofit or an STP is needed, we design it in-house, install it through vetted partners, and put desludging on a schedule.
This article explains public reporting in plain language. It is not legal advice. Confirm the requirements for your building with Rajuk or a qualified engineer.