Nationwide war on dengue begins sept 12
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will formally launch a three-month nationwide dengue prevention and cleanliness campaign on September 12, as the government steps up efforts to destroy Aedes mosquito breeding grounds and prevent further deaths.
The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Nationwide Dengue Prevention and Cleanliness Campaign 2026 from the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad at 9:00am on September 12, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam said at a press conference at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
The campaign will continue until December 12, covering the period when dengue prevalence typically peaks in September, October and November as Aedes mosquito breeding increases.
Stakeholders from all 64 districts and 503 upazilas will join the inauguration through videoconferencing.
Shahe Alam said the government was placing greater emphasis on prevention alongside medical treatment, particularly through the destruction of Aedes breeding grounds and maintaining clean surroundings.
The Prime Minister recently presided over a meeting on dengue prevention, where ministers, secretaries, additional secretaries and directors-general of relevant departments discussed necessary measures.
At the meeting, Tarique Rahman directed authorities to focus more on preventing dengue rather than relying solely on treating patients, the state minister said.
Specific instructions were given to prevent Aedes mosquito larvae from breeding and maintain clean surroundings.
According to Shahe Alam, 137 people have died of dengue across the country as of September 7 this year. During the period, around 2,700 to 2,800 patients have been hospitalised, received treatment or are currently undergoing treatment.
The campaign will involve cleanliness drives at city, upazila, union and municipality levels, alongside efforts to destroy Aedes breeding grounds.
Scouts, BNCC members, disaster management volunteers, students and volunteers from educational institutions, the Red Crescent, Rovers, BD Clean and sanitation workers of the two Dhaka city corporations will participate.
The programme will be conducted simultaneously across the country through the administrations of 64 districts and, at upazila level, through Upazila Nirbahi Officers and Upazila Parishads.
The Prime Minister’s inaugural address will be broadcast live at district and upazila levels, after which government officials and volunteers will participate in local cleanliness activities.
Shahe Alam said coordinated efforts would be made to implement the campaign nationwide, including in Dhaka.
Relevant institutions involved include the two Dhaka city corporations, Local Government Division, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, BNCC, Red Crescent and Scouts.
The state minister said local administrations and educational institutions would jointly select locations for weekly Saturday cleanliness drives.
The sites could include drains, stagnant-water areas, ponds covered with water hyacinths, canals, playgrounds, residential areas and busy traffic zones.
Priority would be given to locations that could serve as Aedes breeding grounds.
The Ministry of Education will also play a key role, with students and teachers from colleges, high schools and madrasas expected to participate in cleanliness drives in their respective areas every Saturday.
Shahe Alam said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Press Information Department would play a crucial role in raising awareness about dengue prevention.
An extensive publicity campaign will be conducted at national, district and field levels. Videos produced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on dengue and Aedes mosquito prevention are already being shown two to three times an hour on electronic billboards installed in different city corporations.
A national committee is coordinating the initiative, with Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Freedom Fighter Abdus Salam as convener and Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Shafiqul Islam Milton as joint convener.
Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary A B M Abdus Sattar has been appointed adviser to the committee.
Shahe Alam said the committee would meet on Thursday to finalise detailed implementation plans, distribute responsibilities and strengthen coordination.
He stressed that public representatives, students, teachers, volunteers, social organisations and citizens must work together with the government to destroy mosquito breeding grounds, maintain cleanliness and raise awareness while ensuring medical care for dengue patients.
