2 mayors missing, leaving Dhaka in growing mosquito threats

Although the number of dengue patients in the capital has been steadily increasing in recent days, the special anti-mosquito drive by Dhaka's two city corporations has come to a halt, as both mayors have been absent since the fall of the Awami League government.

Besides, the city corporations' routine anti-mosquito measures, including larvicide spraying and fogging, have also significantly declined, alarmingly increasing the city's vulnerability to mosquito-borne diseases.

Sources indicate that Dhaka South City Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh fled the country on 3 August, just two days before the Awami League government fell on 5 August amid a mass uprising.

On the other hand, Dhaka North City Mayor Atiqul Islam is reportedly still in the country but is in hiding at an undisclosed location.

Experts warn that the slow progress of the anti-mosquito drives could worsen the risk of dengue outbreaks this year.

They further say there is widespread corruption within the city corporations under the guise of anti-mosquito drives, and authorities need to address this issue.

Additionally, a more modern and effective method of mosquito control should be developed, as current efforts by the city corporations have not significantly reduced mosquito populations, they added.

Report suggests that from the beginning of this year until yesterday, 74 people have died from dengue in the country, with 52 of these fatalities occurring within the two city corporations of Dhaka.

Around 70% of the deaths and 42% of the dengue cases were concentrated in Dhaka.

July saw the peak of dengue cases, with 1,669 patients admitted to hospitals nationwide during that month. However, by 17 August, 2,897 patients were admitted to hospitals in August alone. In these 17 days, 18 people have died from dengue, surpassing the number of deaths in any other month this year.

Despite claims by the two city corporations that anti-mosquito activities are proceeding as usual, no anti-mosquito workers were observed in the field during a visit to Gulshan, Mohakhali, Shewrapara, Dhaka University area, and Newmarket Saturday. Workers scheduled for morning larviciding and afternoon fogging did not carry out their duties in these areas.

Furthermore, reports indicate irregularities in several other areas of the capital, including Bangla Motor, Paltan, Jurain, Old Dhaka, Moghbazar, Gulshan-2, Rampura, and Karwan Bazar, where workers were also found to be absent or irregular in duties.

Mosquito worker Liakat of Dhaka North City Corporation was assigned to spray larvicide in the morning and conduct fogging in the afternoon in roads 12 to 15 of Gulshan-1, Dhaka, last Saturday.

However, he was absent from duty that day and for the previous four to five days. No anti-mosquito operations have been carried out in his designated area during this period.

"Fogging has been suspended for the past four afternoons," Liakat told TBS. "Larviciding is sometimes done in the mornings, but not in the alleyways," he added.

Abu Naim, resident of Dhaka South City Corporation's Newmarket area, said, "Since the mayor fled the country, mosquito control activities have been negligible. It seems the mayor has escaped and left us with mosquitoes. I haven't seen any mosquito workers fogging or spraying larvicide in the mornings for the past 15 days."

A Dhaka South City Corporation official told TBS, "The student protests led to the destruction of all smoke control equipment in ward 72, disrupting anti-mosquito operations there. We are working to restore normal mosquito control efforts in other areas."

When asked about the issues, Dhaka South City Chief Health Officer (in-charge) Fazle Shamsul Kabir said, "At the moment, I am not the appropriate person to comment on this."

Dhaka North City Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Imru-al-Quais told TBS, "Our regular activities are ongoing without interruption. Everything is running smoothly, with about 1,100 workers covering the 54 wards."

Entomologist Dr Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury told TBS, "Although the number of dengue patients is lower than last year, the number of patients and deaths remains alarming. City corporations have failed to significantly reduce dengue cases. To combat dengue effectively, the interim government must adopt a scientific approach and eliminate corruption within the sector."

Interim government's Local Government Adviser AF Hassan Ariff said on Thursday, "Dengue control programmes are ongoing, and the city corporation CEOs have been granted full authority to take necessary measures."

He emphasised the need to enhance workforce mobility and implement result-oriented strategies to control dengue.

He added, "I will meet with city corporation officials involved in dengue control to discuss potential preventive measures."