The Chattogram District Administration on Saturday launched a simultaneous cleanliness drive at around 2,000 mosques and their premises across the district as part of a three-month nationwide dengue prevention campaign.
The drive began at 9:30am, with officials stressing that preventing dengue requires collective efforts beyond medical treatment and hospital management.
Inaugurating the programme, Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah said destroying Aedes mosquito breeding sites and maintaining cleanliness at homes, workplaces and surrounding areas were essential to controlling the disease.
“Preventing dengue cannot depend only on medical treatment. We can increase hospital beds, set up dedicated wards and provide medical facilities, but once a life is lost, it can never be brought back,” he said.
The deputy commissioner urged people to make cleanliness a civic habit, saying keeping the environment clean was not the responsibility of any single person, institution or agency.
“It is the responsibility of all of us, and cleanliness must be turned into a habit,” he added.
The inauguration programme was attended by local MP Abu Sufian, senior officials from the administration and police, Islamic Foundation officials, Alem-Olema, Scouts, Girl Guides, representatives of environment-focused organisations and local youths.
Earlier on Monday, the deputy commissioner announced the mosque-based cleanliness drive at a workshop held at Chattogram Circuit House. The workshop was jointly organised by the Islamic Foundation and UNICEF, highlighting the role of Imams, Khatibs and religious leaders in raising awareness about dengue prevention.
Since 25 July, the district administration has been conducting weekly cleanliness drives every Saturday at different locations across Chattogram.
During the first phase, around 6,200 government officials and employees took part in the campaign and removed nearly 135 tonnes of waste from government offices and establishments.
The campaign was later expanded to ponds, water bodies, Patenga Sea Beach and the Zia Smriti Complex in Kalurghat. Nearly 1,200 educational institutions across the district have also been brought under the initiative.
Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah said cleaning ponds and water bodies would help keep them usable while reducing mosquito breeding risks.
He said the drives would continue in phases in uncovered areas, with the district administration aiming to promote cleanliness as a civic practice alongside dengue prevention.
