Dhaka: State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Mir Shahe Alam, has underscored the critical need to prevent dengue at all costs. He emphasized that merely conducting campaigns at specific times of the year is insufficient; rather, continuous identification and destruction of potential Aedes mosquito breeding grounds are essential.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Shahe Alam made these comments while inspecting cleanliness and dengue prevention activities at Road No. 27 in Dhanmondi and the Rapa Plaza area in the capital. The state minister, who also chairs the National Taskforce Committee on Dengue, stated that the inspection is part of the 'Dengue Prevention and Cleanliness Campaign-2026,' a three-month-long nationwide effort.
The campaign was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad in Dhaka. Following the inauguration, Shahe Alam visited several field-level activities, accompanied by Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator and freedom fighter Md. Abdus Salam.
During his inspection, Mir Shahe Alam assessed ongoing cleanliness operations and potential Aedes mosquito breeding sites. He engaged with city corporation officials and sanitation workers to review the progress of dengue prevention measures. In a prior visit to a cleanliness campaign by the voluntary organization BD Clean at Swech Bhaban, he provided necessary guidance to those involved.
The state minister stressed that cleanliness activities must evolve into a continuous social movement. He called on government agencies, individuals, families, educational institutions, businesses, voluntary organizations, and all societal sectors to take responsibility for dengue prevention.
Briefing journalists post-inspection, Shahe Alam highlighted that the nationwide special campaign aims to prevent Aedes breeding grounds through cleanliness and public awareness, not just mosquito eradication. He noted that preventive measures are being prioritized to keep homes, construction sites, offices, and educational institutions clean.
To enhance the effectiveness of cleanliness operations, initiatives to increase sanitation workers in city corporations are underway. The state minister identified under-construction buildings as particularly vulnerable to Aedes mosquito breeding and urged caution among building owners and developers.
He further warned that neglecting responsibilities and facilitating Aedes breeding could result in legal action, including fines and imprisonment via mobile courts. However, he encouraged proactive prevention through awareness and responsible behavior instead of relying on punitive measures.
Officials from Dhaka South City Corporation, sanitation workers, members of voluntary organizations, and other stakeholders were present during the inspection.