South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN) was held from 21 to 23 October 2003 Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre, Dhaka. Dr. Uton Muchtar Rafel, Regional Director, WHO South East Asia Region, attended the Conference on special invitation of the Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan. Dr. Uton presented a paper at the concluding session, which was attended by Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia as the chief guest.

In his address Dr. Uton commended the SACOSAN Initiative and observed that while the present initiative involved local government and rural development authorities, there should be greater involvement ministry of health is promoting hygiene. He reiterated WHO's Commitment to support Member Countries in Developing and implementation capacity for inter-sectoral planning and implementation of programmes to reduce dirrhoca and other discusses resulting from unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene.

During the conference Dr. Uton also launched a special WHO publication, Looking back Looking ahead" which is a review of WHO's involvement in the field of sanitation and health over the last five decades.

SACOSAN was co-sponsored by WHO, UNICEF water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Counci8l (WSSCC), World Bank, DFID, ADB, UNDP, Plan Bangladesh and Water Aid (UK).

WHO Representative in Bangladesh, Dr. Suniti Acharya also attended the three day conference.