Bhumijo offers hygienic, inclusive and affordable smart toilets in low-income areas by constructing new facilities or renovating and managing existing ones. 

In Dhaka, where over 5 million people commute daily, there are less than 50 usable public toilets available. This has a disproportionate impact on low-income populations and women, who often spend 12 to 16 hours a day outside their homes.  

Bhumijo’s affordable smart toilets also offers extra services such as showers, clean drinking water, laundry, refreshments and advertising space. These services are available through a subscription or pay-per-use model. Their centres offer a separate area for women to ensure their privacy and safety.  

The GSMA supported Bhumijo in March 2022 to digitise the operation of their public toilets. With the grant, Bhumijo trialled a suite of technologies, including a touchless entry system and an Android mobile app for users to pay for a subscription and receive information on hygiene.  

Bhumijo is one of the start-ups supported by the GSMA Innovation Fund for Digital Urban Services, which was launched in May 2021. This initiative is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and supported by the GSMA and its members. 

To learn more about the GSMA Innovation Fund, click here.