Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has detailed an extensive preparedness plan in Parliament aimed at reducing waterlogging and curbing mosquito borne diseases in the capital ahead of the monsoon.
Responding to a question from BNP lawmaker Md Abul Kalam on Monday, the minister said both Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation have launched coordinated programmes focused on prevention, surveillance and public engagement.
For Dhaka North, authorities have introduced seasonal mosquito control strategies targeting Culex species before the monsoon and Aedes mosquitoes during the rainy season. Risk zones have been mapped and integrated control measures are underway, including larvicide application in the mornings and fogging operations in the evenings. Joint drives are being carried out in high risk areas such as blocked canals, drains and sewers. Around 6000 bighas of water bodies have already been cleaned.
DNCC has also stepped up public participation through weekly clean up campaigns in 25 vulnerable wards under the banner Saturday’s Promise Let Us Clean Our Own Homes. The initiative, conducted in line with guidance from national health authorities, runs every Saturday morning.
A separate programme titled Operation Clean Home Healthy Lives began on April 8 in dengue prone wards. Through hospital based surveillance, the corporation is collecting the addresses of dengue patients and deploying Quick Response Teams to conduct targeted mosquito control in affected neighbourhoods. This targeted intervention has been in place since April 21.
The city corporation is in the process of procuring the biological pesticide Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis after trial use showed promising results. Pesticides currently in use are being randomly tested by five government and private organisations to ensure quality. Awareness campaigns are being reinforced through printed materials, bulk SMS alerts during the monsoon and school outreach activities. Officials say pesticide application is being carried out according to technical guidelines, with regular monitoring of effectiveness.
In Dhaka South, authorities have launched weekly special cleaning and anti mosquito drives across all wards, engaging local communities. Morning and evening spraying is continuing alongside waste removal efforts. A dedicated monitoring team has been formed to oversee mosquito control, with special crash programmes targeting high risk locations.
Mobile courts are conducting inspections in vulnerable areas and imposing fines where necessary. Awareness campaigns are ongoing in schools, mosques, markets and other public places, supported by outreach in print and electronic media.
To ease waterlogging, DSCC has begun cleaning identified hotspots, including Segunbagicha box culvert, Zia Sarani and Kajla canal, with additional canals and drainage infrastructure to be addressed in phases. Six portable pumps have been purchased to speed up rainwater removal from flooded zones.
Currently, storm water from the southern part of the city is discharged through three outlets. Work is underway to build another outlet, and plans have been drawn up for a large new sewer line from Gulistan to Sadarghat with World Bank financing. Further expansion of drainage outlets will depend on upcoming surveys and feasibility studies.
The minister expressed optimism that, if fully implemented, the combined measures would significantly reduce waterlogging this monsoon and help control dengue, chikungunya and other mosquito borne illnesses in the capital.
