Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said mobile courts will begin operations within the next two to three days as part of intensified efforts to prevent dengue, with penalties to be imposed if Aedes mosquito larvae or stagnant water are found in homes or institutions.
He made the announcement while inaugurating a three-month special dengue prevention campaign of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) at Rabindra Sarobar, near Dhanmondi Lake on Saturday.
He said that mobile teams will conduct door-to-door inspections as part of the drive alongside public announcements in various areas.
If Aedes mosquito larvae or accumulated water are found in any household, institution, or establishment, on-the-spot penalties will be imposed through mobile courts.
He stressed that the measures are being taken in the public interest and urged authorities of all public and private educational institutions, offices, and organisations to maintain proper sanitation within their premises.
Legal action will be taken in cases of negligence, he warned.
“Every citizen must keep their homes and surroundings clean,” he said, adding that special attention must be given to preventing water accumulation in containers such as coconut shells, flower pots, rooftop gardens, unused toilets, drains, and other items where mosquitoes breed.
He further said inspection teams will be allowed to enter households during the drive, and residents must cooperate. If stagnant water is found, fines will be imposed immediately. Non-cooperation, he warned, would leave the government with no alternative but to enforce the law strictly.
He also said that if stagnant water is found in any government institution, the responsible senior official will be fined, while in private institutions the organisation itself will face penalties.
According to him, around 60 per cent of areas under 75 wards of the DSCC have already been found to have Aedes mosquito larvae, describing the situation as “alarming.”
He warned that the risk of dengue transmission would increase significantly if the larvae mature into mosquitoes.
Describing dengue as a potentially fatal disease, he said Aedes mosquitoes can spread rapidly and transmit the virus, some strains of which may cause severe complications, including haemorrhaging and death.
He called on citizens to remain vigilant and urged the media to play an active role in raising public awareness about dengue prevention.
DSCC Administrator Md Abdur Salam and other officials were also present at the event.
The programme concluded with a public awareness rally aimed at preventing dengue.
