Dhaka:The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and partners, is intensifying its dengue response efforts to aid approximately 300,000 individuals. This initiative targets communities and vulnerable families in regions with high dengue transmission.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the surge in dengue cases follows heavy monsoon rains in late August. Data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) indicates that by September 23, 67,367 dengue patients had been hospitalized and 201 deaths recorded, surpassing the figures from the same period in 2025. In the 24 hours leading up to 8:00 am on Thursday, eight more individuals died, and 1,782 new patients were admitted to hospitals, raising the death toll to 209 this year.
Supported by the IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), the operation will focus on areas such as Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and the camps for displaced people from Rakhine State, Myanmar, as well as host communities in Cox's Bazar. The operation can extend to other affected areas as needed.
Md. Habibur Rahman Khan, Secretary General of BDRCS, emphasized the rapidly evolving nature of this public health situation, stating that volunteers and teams are actively supporting communities and coordinating with health authorities. The effort aims to strengthen outreach in high-risk areas, assisting families in managing the health and economic impacts of dengue.
The BDRCS-IFRC initiative complements the government‚s dengue response, led by the DGHS and supported through national and local health coordination efforts. Key actions include mobilizing 1,000 volunteers for community awareness on dengue prevention, supporting hospitals with essential supplies like IV saline and test kits, and providing cash assistance to vulnerable households affected by dengue.
The broader Red Cross and Red Crescent network is also involved in the response. Contributions have included 38,000 NS1 dengue test kits and 50 apheresis kits. Community engagement and surveillance activities are ongoing to mitigate the impact of dengue across Bangladesh.