HC wants new medicines to eradicate Aedes mosquitoes
The medicinal sprays being used at present don't work anymore. Hence, HC wants new, effective medicines within a week.
The High Court has given directives to the chief health officers of both Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation to use new medicines to eradicate Aedes mosquitoes within a week.
An HC bench comprised of Justices Tariq ul Hakim and Mohammad Suhrawardy issued the order on Thursday.
The HC bench also said that mosquito-borne diseases create panic among the people. The medicinal sprays being used at present don't work anymore. Hence, they want new, effective medicines within a week to repel Aedes mosquitoes and control dengue fever.
"Tell us the process on how to import effective medicines in a week. We will give directive to the government that way," said the HC bench.
Controlling the spread of dengue is not the responsibility of the city corporations only, the health ministry also need to come forward, the court added further.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Deputy Attorney General Kazi Mainul Hasan represented the state.
Among others, DNCC Lawyer Toufiq Inam Tipu and DSCC Lawyer Syed Ahmed Reza were present.
The HC Division also listened to the statements of Chief Health Officer (CHO) of DNCC Brigadier General Momimur Rahman Mamun and DSCC Brigadier General Sharif Ahmed on their steps to control Aedes mosquito.
Two CHOs informed the court that there is no lab in both city corporations for conducting research on medicines used for controlling mosquitoes.
On 22 July, the HC directed the two CHOs to submit reports on their steps by July 25 for their failure to control Dengue menace.
Earlier on July 14, the HC ordered the two mayors of DNCC and DSCC, its executive officers, health secretary, local government secretary, and directorate general of health directorate to submit their reports on their taken steps to prevent Dengue and Chikungunya.
The bench also issued a ruling which asked why the inaction of the authorities concerned in preventing diseases should not be declared illegal.
Later, the Attorney General’s Office was directed to contact relevant parties and notify the court. The next hearing on the issue was set on July 22.