In Custom Basti, the girls in the slum community were unable to discuss issues regarding menstruation with their mothers or female elders and there was no provision of affordable sanitary products. This resulted in girls using pieces of rag as a substitute for sanitary napkins. As there were no adequate bathing facilities, the girls were unable to wash the pieces of rag through fear of embarrassment that others in the community would see the material. It was common practice to hide the dirty material on the floor under the bed until the following month. Taslima Begum says 'Before we had no knowledge of hygienic practices and the sanitary napkin was too costly. Teenage boys would tease the girls'.

In October 2009, WaterAid Bangladesh's local partner, Nabolok, set up a Community Based Organisation (CBO) called "Custom basti sasthao paribesh unnayan committee". The CBO was formed by 13 women from Custom Basti, seven of which were some of the poorest in the slum. A Women's Group, Children's Group and a Girl's Group were also set up to spread good hygiene practices.

The problem of poor menstrual hygiene management was raised during one of the CBO sessions carried out to identify the needs of the different individuals in the village. The two main barriers to acting hygienically were a lack of knowledge and the high cost of sanitary napkins. The women from the CBO and Nabolok worked together to set up a small scale income generating business to produce low cost sanitary napkins. Four CBO members were sent to Phulki, Dhaka, to be trained in the production of the low cost sanitary napkins. One of the women chosen to be trained was Firoja, who is physically disabled. During Firoja's childhood she lost her fingers on both of her hands up to her wrist. The training has provided Firoja with respect and financial independance. Due to Firoja's disability, she has not been married and previously has had to rely on help from others to get by.

Today the business is a success and a source of pride amongst the women in the village. Low cost sanitary napkins are sold for 30 Taka, which provides an income and empowers the four trained women. The subject of menstruation is no longer taboo and is openly discussed between the women and girls. The Girl's Group actively promotes good menstrual hygiene practices and encourages the safe disposal of waste. Taslima Begum says 'Now we have knowledge, we have knowledge of good hygiene practice, low cost sanitary napkin making and composting. We are free from disease. Girls no longer get teased'.