2024-03-21 10:10:00
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam said, we have started canal cleaning activities to kill Culex mosquitoes. The Rajuk Canal in Uttara is heavily polluted, resulting in an increase in Culex mosquitoes. This canal is owned by RAJUK (Capital Development Authority). Today I came to know that Wasa also owns it.
He said, I have said many times to hand over the canal to Dhaka North City Corporation. But the canal has not been handed over yet. Even though the area is regularly sprayed with pesticides, many mosquitoes breed from the waste water in the canals. There is no substitute for canal cleaning as a permanent solution. So we are cleaning even though there is no DNCC canal to kill mosquitoes.
He said this while inspecting DNCC’s mosquito eradication and cleaning activities at Rajuk Canal in Uttara Sector 12 of the capital on Wednesday (March 20).
DNCC Mayor said that Culex and Aedes are two types of mosquitoes in Dhaka city. Culex mosquitoes bother us a lot, they bite us. Culex mosquito bites do not kill humans. But there is a risk of death from the bite of Aedes mosquito. Aedes mosquito grows in clear water accumulated in people’s homes, offices and courts.
He said that everyone’s house, office, court should take responsibility for controlling Aedes mosquito. Because it is impossible for us to see whether there is water on the roof of someone’s house, whether coconut shells, paint chips, unused tires are lying on someone’s roof, balcony or not. It is not possible for us to see if there is water in the car garage in the basement of the building. These are their responsibility.
He mentioned that last year, many larvae were found in the basement of some government institutions including Petrobangla in Mohammadpur’s Japan Garden City and Karwan Bazar.
The mayor said that Aedes mosquito control is not possible only for the city corporation. Everyone should be aware. Social movement is needed to control Aedes mosquito. And cleaning the canals for Culex mosquitoes. A lot of mosquitoes in Gulshan Lake, Baridhara Lake. We are clearing them. Other organizations have to clean their respective places. Direct connection of sewage to canals breeds many mosquitoes. WASA will construct a sewage treatment plant in Uttara area. It will take several years to build. But it is important to keep these temporary canals clean.
At that time, he said, if the Rajuk Canal in Uttara is handed over to us, I will clean it and make it a beautiful place. Water boats will run here. Fish farming will also be possible. But for that, sewage black water (contaminated water) must be stopped from entering the canal. Wasa and Rajuk should come forward. All organizations must work in concert.
In response to a journalist’s question, the mayor said that we will start a massive campaign to control dengue after Eid. Last time I took the initiative to introduce bio insecticide BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) Amidani but as you know it could not be used due to the fraud of the contractor. So this time we are directly importing BTI from City Corporation. Hope to bring BTI in next two months. The process of bringing modern machines (wheelbarrow machines) for spraying medicine is also underway. We have made preparations before monsoon to take proper steps to control dengue.
At this time DNCC Mayor. Atiqul Islam informed about the decision to collect packets of chips, cups of ice cream and other items that could harbor Aedes larvae from DNCC areas for money.
Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives also attended the visit. Tajul Islam, RAJUK chairman Anishur Rahman Mia, DNCC mayor’s adviser and professor of entomology at Jahangirnagar University. Kabirul Basar, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning Department of Jahangirnagar University. Aktar Mahmud and urban planning professor Dr. Adil Muhammad Khan, DNCC Chief Executive Officer Mir Khairul Alam, Chief Engineer Brig. Jenna. Md. Moin Uddin, Chief Waste Management Officer Captain Mohammad Fida Hasan and others.