The two mayors of Dhaka have reaffirmed the city corporation's commitment to preventing a repeat of the dengue outbreak that struck the capital last year. They have guaranteed that the situation will not escalate this time.
Mayor Atiqul Islam addressed the dengue situation while inspecting waste management in various wards of North City Corporation in front of the Nagar Bhaban on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, inaugurating a public toilet in Ward No. 12 near Malibagh Junction, also spoke to the media about dengue earlier in the day.
DNCC Mayor Atiq stated, "We are actively working to mitigate the dengue threat this year. Councillors are diligently working in their respective wards to prevent a repeat of last year's crisis." He added that each councillor has been allocated funds for this purpose.
Emphasising preparations for the monsoon-induced waterlogging, Atiqul Islam mentioned the establishment of rapid response teams across 10 locations to address waterlogging issues swiftly.
DSCC Mayor Taposh noted that in 2019, Dhaka saw 1,55,000 dengue cases, and there were concerns that 2023 would surpass that number. However, there were 42,000 fewer cases in Dhaka in 2023 compared to 2019 due to effective measures implemented last year.
Highlighting the importance of collective responsibility in dengue prevention, Mayor Taposh announced plans for discussions with relevant authorities on May 21. He also mentioned upcoming combing operations in all government and semi-government premises, including schools, colleges, universities, police stations, and residences.
