Dhaka: The High Court has issued a directive to the relevant authorities to promptly implement measures to control mosquitoes across all regions of the capital city.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this directive has been addressed to the Dhaka North and South City Corporations. Following an initial hearing of a writ petition concerning the issue, Justice Md. Habibul Gani and Justice Sk. Tahsin Ali issued the order along with a rule on Monday. The Chief Executive Officers of both city corporations are mandated to submit a report to the court within two months, detailing the actions taken in response to the court’s order.
The rule further inquires why the lack of action or failure to control mosquito-borne diseases such as chikungunya, dengue, and malaria in Dhaka should not be considered beyond legal authority. Additionally, the rule demands to know why immediate and necessary measures should not be mandated in all affected areas of Dhaka to control mosquitoes.
Respondents, which include the local government secretary, the chief executive officers of Dhaka’s two city corporations, and the director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), are required to respond to the rule within four weeks. Supreme Court lawyer Md. Salequzzaman Sagar filed the writ petition in the High Court last month, seeking directives for necessary steps to control mosquito populations in areas impacted by mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue and chikungunya, in Dhaka. Sagar himself represented the writ petition in court, while Deputy Attorney General Md. Mohaddes-ul-Islam and Mahfuz Bin Yusuf were present for the state.