Taskforce fines building owners in DSCC dengue drive

A newly formed taskforce under the National Committee for the Prevention of Dengue and Other Mosquito-Borne Diseases conducted a special anti-dengue drive and mobile court operation in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) areas on Thursday, imposing fines on building owners and carrying out public awareness activities.

The operation, led by State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives and Taskforce Chairman Mir Shahe Alam, was carried out in the Jigatala area and along the South Kutubkhali canal in Jatrabari as part of efforts to curb the spread of dengue.

During the drive, officials inspected rooftops, basements, hotels, restaurants and under-construction buildings in Jigatala. Aedes mosquito larvae were found at two privately owned under-construction buildings, prompting authorities to impose fines of Tk 50,000 on each owner under Section 270 of the Penal Code, 1860. The mobile court collected a total of Tk 100,000 in fines.

Special warning notices marked in red ink were also affixed at the entrances of the buildings where larvae were detected to alert occupants and visitors about dengue risks.

Inspectors additionally visited several government residential complexes managed by the Public Works Department, where they identified conditions favourable to mosquito breeding, including accumulated waste and stagnant water. Residents and the relevant authorities were advised to take immediate preventive measures.

As part of the campaign, officials also raised awareness among pedestrians and business owners, urging them not to dispose of waste indiscriminately and to maintain clean surroundings to prevent mosquito breeding.

Speaking to journalists after the operation, Mir Shahe Alam said the primary objective of the mobile court was not punishment but increasing public awareness.

“Our main objective is not to punish people through mobile courts; rather, we want to raise awareness among the public. We expect every citizen to play a responsible role in preventing dengue,” he said.

The state minister said taskforce operations would continue across the capital under the direction of the national committee. He also called on media professionals to strengthen public awareness efforts through extensive coverage and dissemination of dengue prevention messages.

During a separate visit to the South Kutubkhali canal area in Jatrabari, Mir Shahe Alam exchanged views with local residents and provided guidance on keeping the canal and surrounding areas clean to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.

The anti-dengue operation was attended by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) Chairman Engineer Riazul Islam, DSCC Chief Executive Officer Zahirul Islam, Chief Waste Management Officer Air Commodore Mahabubur Rahman Talukder, Chief Health Officer Dr Jahane Ferdous Binte Rahman, Deputy Secretary of the Local Government Division Robiul Islam and other concerned officials.

The latest drive reflects the government’s broader efforts to strengthen mosquito control measures enhance public awareness and encourage community participation in preventing dengue outbreaks in the capital.