The authorities of the two city corporations of Dhaka have failed to protect city dwellers from the mosquito menace despite spending about Tk 830 crore over the last one decade.
The reality is that the mosquito population has increased alongside the size of the annual budget, raising questions about whether the large sum of money has been utilised effectively or wasted.
In this context, Bangladesh has recorded 145 deaths from dengue this year, including six deaths on Friday, with as many as 36,927 people infected across the country.
Six people died on Thursday, signalling an alarming rise in mosquito-borne diseases.
Residents are suffering from various mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue, chikungunya, and other viral infections. Along with the rising number of infections, there is also an increase in fatalities.
Although the city corporation officials claim that dengue is under control in the capital and that the situation in Dhaka is much better compared to other parts of the country, the reality is that mosquito-borne diseases are spreading nationwide.
They blame the public for their “ignorance,” which plays a key role in the proliferation of mosquitoes. Health experts also argue that government actions alone are not enough to manage the dengue situation.
Dr Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist and zoology professor at Jahangirnagar University, blamed the lack of monitoring and evaluation by the two city corporations for the situation.
“They have failed to involve the public, researchers, and universities in their activities. If the duration and target areas for pesticide application are not monitored properly, the result will remain zero,” he told TIMES of Bangladesh.
Public health expert Dr Ahmed Parvez Jabin said, “The reluctant attitude of the government is the primary cause of the worsening dengue situation. As it has not been able to implement a proper plan, dengue goes out of control.”
He found corruption to be a factor in the problem, emphasising the need for monitoring all actions, including field-level operations. “Allocation has been increasing, but controlling the mosquito menace can’t be achieved,” he added.
Talking to TIMES, a resident of Mirpur-10, Selina Begum, said, “Pesticides are sprayed, but the number of mosquitoes doesn’t decrease. There must be something wrong.”
Many residents called on the government to conduct research to find out why the mosquito population is not being controlled.
Dr Nishat Parveen, the chief health officer of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), claimed that they have been able to keep dengue under control due to coordinated efforts and that dengue was more prevalent outside Dhaka.
“We are analysing data on daily infections and have formed monitoring teams to oversee mosquito control operations, pesticide application, and home inspections,” she told TIMES of Bangladesh, stressing the need for raising public awareness to prevent dengue.
Records show that DNCC allocated nearly Tk 110 crore for mosquito control for the 2024-25 fiscal year, with Tk 65 crore set aside for purchasing pesticides.
The remaining funds are allocated for fogging and spray machines, transport, bleaching powder, disinfectants, and other mosquito control equipment.
For this fiscal year, DSCC allocated Tk 44.47 crore, with Tk 40 crore earmarked for pesticides. An additional Tk 3.75 crore is set aside for different equipment.
In the previous fiscal year, the two city corporations allocated about Tk 168 crore for mosquito control. Of these, DNCC allocated over Tk 560 crore, while DSCC allocated Tk 270 crore in the last 10 years for mosquito control.
Statistics from the health department show that dengue first appeared as an epidemic in Bangladesh in June 2000.
That year, 5,551 people were affected by dengue, with 93 fatalities. Since then, dengue has occurred every year, with fluctuating numbers of cases and deaths.
However, the situation in 2023 reached an alarming level when 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record.
The year 2024 also saw a deadly toll, with 575 deaths.
