Year
2026
Reform Domain
Manifesto Watch
Sub Domain
Women’s Empowerment
Source of Reform Proposals
Election Manifesto of Bangladesh Nationalist Party - BNP
Reform Proposed
Reform Initiated
Legal and Policy Framework
Operationalisation
Action Implementation
Stage of Implementation
Reform Proposed
Last Update: 03-Aug-26
This pledge was articulated in the election manifesto of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for Bangladesh’s 13th national election. In its election manifesto, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) states that "Initiatives will be taken to install vending machines for sanitary napkins at all secondary schools, madrasas, and equivalent educational institutions. Over time, this service will be expanded to all public and private industries and institutions.”
Reform Initiated
Last Update: 03-Aug-26
The FY2026–27 Gender Budget Report incorporated the installation of menstrual-health and hygiene vending machines in educational institutions into the government’s proposed actions. It identified the Secondary and Higher Education Division (SHED) as the lead agency for the education-related component, with several other ministries and divisions listed as associated bodies.
Observation
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No verified government circular, formal implementation decision, legal instrument, nationwide action plan, dedicated programme document, budget allocation, procurement notice or installation schedule was identified for introducing sanitary-napkin vending machines across all secondary schools, madrasas and equivalent institutions. The government has also not published a national baseline showing how many institutions already have functioning machines, how many more are required, which agencies will lead the programme, what the rollout will cost, or how procurement, refilling, pricing, maintenance and waste disposal will be managed.
Limited government-supported installations have taken place locally. On 25 June 2026, machines were installed in four educational institutions in Hatibandha upazila under an Annual Development Programme initiative. As of 17 July 2026, Gafargaon Municipality reported installations in four schools and colleges and announced gradual expansion. Earlier government-supported and non-government pilots also show that the concept is not new; a 2025 menstrual-health roundtable reported machines in selected schools and public facilities.
These developments indicate limited local implementation, but no evidence links them to a centrally coordinated programme established to implement the BNP manifesto pledge. The broader commitment to cover all secondary schools, madrasas and equivalent institutions, followed by public and private industries and institutions, still lacks clear targets, responsibilities, financing and delivery arrangements. The pledge has therefore reached the Reform Initiated stage but has not progressed to Legal/Policy Formulation.