Bangladesh sees highest dengue fatality rate in South Asia

Staff Reporter :

Speakers a city meeting said that Bangladesh now has the highest dengue fatality rate in South Asia, and ranks second globally in terms of death rate. The meeting emphasized citizen awareness and coordinated efforts among different agencies to combat the dengue crisis.

The dengue situation in Bangladesh has reached an alarming stage. In this context, the coordination meeting titled “Dengue and Chikungunya Dialogue August 2025: Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation”
was held on Sunday at Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).

According to a forecast report presented at the meeting, the months of August and September pose extremely high risks for dengue outbreaks.

Continuous rainfall in August is expected to cause a rapid rise in the number of dengue patients, increasing the pressure on hospitals. Based on previous years’ experience, the peak of infections is likely to occur in September. However, once the monsoon ends in October, the number of cases is expected to decline.

The meeting highlighted several obstacles to mosquito control, including lack of public awareness, improper application of insecticides, and inadequate government initiatives.

In addition, unplanned urbanization, water drainage problems, and climate conditions are increasing mosquito breeding. Resistance to insecticides and barriers to accessing households for control operations are also hampering efforts. Furthermore, lack of coordination among agencies and misconceptions about fogging as the only solution are making the situation worse.

From the DNCC’s side, it was informed that multiple accredited laboratories have been engaged to test the effectiveness of larvicides used in dengue prevention. Greater emphasis is being placed on regular supervision of mosquito control workers. Third-party monitoring has already led to some improvements. Preparations have also been made to ensure the supply of necessary kits and equipment to dengue-dedicated hospitals.

At the press conference, experts urged people to remain aware not only of dengue but also of Zika and Chikungunya. They stressed that early preparation and public awareness are crucial to preventing these diseases. They also underscored the importance of timely field surveys to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.

Highlighting steps taken to fight dengue, DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz said: “Footpath encroachment by markets is making waste management difficult, which facilitates mosquito breeding. We clean the city’s garbage throughout the night, but by noon the city becomes dirty again. Combating dengue is not solely the responsibility of the city corporation or the Directorate General of Health Services; rather, it requires collective effort.”