Tk 25 cr budget fails to stop Chattogram dengue surge
Collected Photo
The budget for mosquito eradication in the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) has increased nearly fivefold in a single year.
New equipment has been purchased, and the workforce has been expanded. Yet, the dominance of mosquitoes in the city has not decreased; instead, the dengue situation is taking a turn for the worse.
Out of the city’s 41 wards, the health department has already identified eight wards as highly vulnerable “dengue hotspots”. Experts point out that the inability to control mosquitoes stems from a lack of coordination among service agencies, year after year of spraying ineffective pesticides, and mosquitoes developing chemical resistance.
Experts argue that CCC must move away from traditional methods and adopt modern, eco-friendly biological technologies, such as using Singapore-style drones to detect stagnant water on the roofs of high-rise buildings and releasing Brazil-style Wolbachia bacteria-carrying mosquitoes.
According to a recent survey by the Divisional Health Director’s Office, the eight wards facing the highest dengue risk are Ward 10 (North Kattali), Ward 3 (Panchlaish), Ward 2 (Jalalabad), Ward 17 (West Baklia), Ward 19 (South Baklia), Ward 39 (South Halishahar), Ward 34 (Patharghata), and Ward 32 (Anderkilla).
Data from the Chittagong Civil Surgeon’s Office indicates that the number of dengue cases in the district has reached 1,455 this year. Among them, 620 cases were recorded in the city, while 618 cases were reported in the upazilas. The three deaths recorded so far all occurred outside the city.
During the first 18 days of August alone, 621 people became infected. Within the upazilas, the highest prevalence of dengue was observed in Sitakunda with 158 cases and Karnaphuli with 114 cases.
On-site inspections in the city’s Anderkilla, Panchlaish, and Baklia areas revealed that plastic and polythene waste have blocked drains and canals, leaving stagnant water to pool. Due to excavation works by the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) and WASA, these clogged canal junctions have turned into safe breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.
An analysis of CCC accounts shows that the agency spent Tk 41 crore over the last 25 years on mosquito control. This includes Tk 12.40 crore spent during the tenure of former mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Tk 9.50 crore under M Manjur Alam, Tk 8.30 crore under AJM Nasir Uddin, and Tk 7.46 crore during the four-year tenure of Rezaul Karim Chowdhury.
For the ongoing 2026-27 fiscal year, a record Tk 25 crore has been allocated for mosquito control, representing an almost fivefold jump from the previous fiscal year. 165 regular spraymen and 60 spraymen from special teams are deployed across the city.
They are equipped with 74 fogging machines and more than 160 spray machines. Despite these extensive measures, frustrated residents remain angry as the mosquito menace continues unabated.
A study conducted by a technical committee of University of Chittagong researchers revealed shocking findings about the ineffectiveness of the sprayed pesticides. The 2021 study showed that only 16 percent of mosquitoes died two hours after the application of larvicide (the liquid chemical sprayed on water) supplied by CCC.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate for flying mosquitoes after spraying adulticide using fogging machines was under 20 percent.
The convener of the technical committee, Rabiul Hasan Bhuiyan, and member secretary, Mohammad Omar Faruk, recommended reducing reliance on chemical pesticides and ensuring the natural flow of water in drains and canals.
As alternatives, they suggested controlling larvae through fish farming and conducting genetic testing to verify whether mosquitoes have developed resistance to pesticides.
Defending the municipal efforts, CCC Mayor Shahadat Hossain said, “We are making all possible efforts to control dengue. However, Aedes mosquitoes mostly breed in homes. Not allowing water to accumulate for more than three days and personal awareness are the main ways to solve this problem.
“We are using BTI, manufactured in the United States, which has been proven 100 percent effective by the IEDCR. If any negligence is found at the ward level, administrative action is being taken.”
However, entomologists and public health experts said the city authorities cannot simply shift the entire responsibility onto public awareness.
One researcher added, “Mosquitoes have gained resistance because the same chemicals have been used year after year without lab tests. Mosquitoes cannot be killed just by fogging during the monsoon. The artificial breeding grounds created due to the lack of coordination in the work of CCC, CDA, and WASA must be shut down first.”
