Army to help combat Aedes mosquitoes in Dhaka North as dengue threat looms

“In 90 percent of the homes we inspect, we find waste accumulated nearby. Many homeowners don’t clean their properties properly," says DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has enlisted the help of the Bangladesh Army to exterminate Aedes mosquitoes, the carriers of the deadly dengue fever, in the capital.

DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz made the revelation on Tuesday after a meeting with representatives from various hospitals on preparations for dengue prevention during the upcoming monsoon season.

Outlining the DNCC's plans to contain the threat of dengue, he said a public awareness campaign will be launched next week, encouraging residents to keep their homes clean. From the following week, fines will be imposed on homeowners who fail to maintain cleanliness on their premises.

He added that dengue treatment corners will be set up at all public hospitals in Dhaka to ensure proper care for patients.

Ejaz also revealed that the DNCC had moved away from using private contractors and the army will now take over mosquito control operations.

“We’ve decided to stop relying on third-party contractors for spraying mosquito repellent,” he said.

“Instead, this time, we are assigning the task to Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory (BMTF). We were compelled to take this decision because we cannot take risks with public health. There’s no room for error.”

With the onset of the rainy season, the risk of dengue spreading intensifies, he warned. While mosquito control is essential, eliminating mosquitoes inside homes remains a major challenge.

“In 90 percent of the homes we inspect, we find waste accumulated nearby. Many homeowners don’t clean their properties properly. When our teams try to enter to spray larvicide, residents often deny entry, citing privacy or security concerns.”

Ejaz urged tenants to hold landlords accountable for keeping their premises clean and emphasised that the DNCC will now strictly enforce regulations.

“Tenants should put pressure on landlords in this crisis. From next week, we’re launching a campaign. The week after that, we’ll begin imposing fines. There’s no alternative.”