DSCC, DNCC must take steps to relief residents from mosquito bites

The mosquito infestation in the capital Dhaka has increased significantly at the end of winter. In some areas, the number of mosquitoes is so high that it is disrupting the normal life of city dwellers.

Nowhere is safe from mosquitoes, be it houses, shops, or business establishments. It is not possible to be safe without putting up a mosquito net and entering it.

The two city corporations – Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation — are found to be largely inactive at this time. The city dwellers have no other option but to silently endure the mosquito irritation.

Three types of mosquitoes, Culex, Aedes and Anopheles, are a nuisance in Dhaka city. Although people do not get seriously ill from the bites of these mosquitoes, the pain is unbearable.

According to experts, the rising temperatures at the end of winter are conducive to the breeding of Culex, which can spread rapidly in a short period of time.

Research data shows that the issue of abnormal mosquito growth has spread from Uttara to Mirpur, and from Gulshan to Mohammadpur.

The density of mosquitoes is high in areas like Kamrangirchar, Lalbagh, Shanir Akhra, Shyampur or Savar; that is, there is a direct relationship between the spread of mosquitoes and lowlands, polluted water bodies and unplanned urbanization.

Experts have pointed to three reasons: a mild winter and rapid temperature rise, failure to control pollution in sewers and water bodies, and the absence of public representatives in the city corporations.

According to the Meteorological Department, the average temperature in January was 0.8 degrees Celsius above normal.

As temperatures rise, the Culex life cycle completes more quickly, the female mosquito’s tendency to feed on blood increases, and egg production increases — and as a result, its spread also increases.

Mosquitoes are no longer a seasonal problem in Dhaka, but a year-round problem. It is not possible to deal with this crisis with individual coils or aerosols.

There is a need for integrated urban planning, regular application of larvicide by listing closed water bodies, and strictness in waste management and most importantly, public involvement in these efforts.

Ward-based community monitoring and information disclosure can be made mandatory, so that citizens know how serious the situation is in their areas.

The new government has taken office just a few days ago.

The government should prioritize public health; make relevant institutions, including the city corporations, effective, and make arrangements to protect city residents from mosquito bites.