155 dengue hotspots identified in Chattogram, larvae found at Dr. Yunus’s home
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Amid a dengue outbreak in Chattogram city, a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes has been found at the residence of former Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Separate surveys by the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) and the health department identified a total of 155 locations as potential Aedes mosquito breeding grounds, including the courtyard of his home, “Niribili,” in the Panchlaish residential area. The hotspot list includes several prominent educational institutions, buildings under construction and residential areas in the city.
According to a list prepared by mosquito control inspectors of the CCC, several important locations have been identified as potential mosquito breeding grounds. These include educational institutions such as Chattogram College, Hazi Muhammad Mohsin College and Kapasgola City Corporation Women’s College, as well as the residence of the former Chief Adviser in Panchlaish, an abandoned building in Katlganj, the Eleven Dime Building, Tupiwala Para, Mir Nasir Goli, Munshipukur Par and Chawkbazar Kacha Bazar.
During a visit to the former Chief Adviser’s residence, Agamir Somoy spoke with security guard Md. Sayem Khan. He said, “Sir, when he was the Chief Adviser, mosquito repellent was sprayed here regularly. Now they do not come to spray it like before. Water accumulates in the courtyard whenever it rains. This is basically why the place has become a mosquito breeding ground.”
CCC Malaria and Mosquito Control Officer Md. Sarful Islam Mahi said, “According to a survey by the entomologists of the office of the Divisional Director of Health, eight wards of the city have been considered dengue hotspots. We identified 155 potential breeding grounds and applied insecticides there and destroyed the breeding grounds.”
Describing personal awareness as one of the key ways to overcome the situation, he said, “We are identifying the residences of infected patients and spraying insecticides in the yards and within a 500 meter area around them. Our crash program is underway. The Aedes mosquito, which transmits the dengue virus, is called a domestic or VIP mosquito because it mostly stays in domestic environments. To protect against mosquito bites during the day or at night, individuals and families must take preventive measures and remain aware. Water must not be allowed to accumulate in homes and surrounding areas for more than three days.”
Among the other wards, the breeding grounds identified in Ward 3, Panchlaish, include Naya Hat Bazar, Kuwaish Road, Bakshi Nagar, Chalitatal i, including buildings under construction and the market, Chalitatal i Shilbari Temple, Panchlaish High School, Rupnagar Residential Area, Gulbagh Residential Area, Ahmadiya Housing Society, West Shahid Nagar, Madhyam Shahid Nagar, including the under construction Abdus Sattar Tower, Oxygen Residential Area, Pathanpara and Aturar Depot, including Jahanpur and Hashempara markets.
In Ward 2, West Bakalia, the list of breeding grounds includes KB Grammar School, Baluchhara Government Primary School, Shining Jewel School, mosques and madrasas, the shrine of Andha Huzur and surrounding ponds, Agun Fakir’s shrine, Khandakia Hat, Chandannagar Bazar, the market, colony and housing areas adjacent to Shershah, the residential area beside Oxygen intersection, shops opposite the Cantonment Gate, buildings under construction at the beginning of Baluchhara Residential Area, Shital Jharna Residential Area, District Council Residential Area, WAPDA Goli Colony, the area north of Alpana Computer, the Khaja Tower area, Kunjachhaya Residential Area, Debarpar area, Chandannagar Residential Area, Shyamol Chhaya Residential Area, Bihari Colony, Roads and Highways quarters, abandoned areas around Jamshed Shah Road and flower pots along the road in front of Sena Kalyan Mill.
Ward 17, West Bakalia, includes B.Ed. College, Bakalia School, both primary and secondary sections, Mousumi Residential Area, Kalam Colony on Abdul Latif Road, Chan Mia Munshi’s Lane, Taher Colony, Shanti Nagar area, the area adjacent to Mia Baper Mosque, the building under construction on Medina Mosque Lane and the area adjacent to the former councilor’s house.
In Ward 10, North Kattali, the identified breeding grounds include Baro Kali Bari on Ishan Mahajan Road, Golar Bari near City Gate, Mansuranabad, Sagarika Industrial Area, Customs Academy Laboratory School, Khejur Tala Jelepara adjacent to the stadium, Bishwas Para, Amanat Ullah Shah Para, Nazir Bari, Munshi Bari, Mukim Talukdar Bari, drains in CDA Residential Area, drains in Prashanti Residential Area, Agrapara, including Victoria Jute Mill, Qutub Bari, Zaker Ullah Saudagar’s house, Bashir Mohammad Bari, Mostafa Hakim College Road, Acharya Para and Jalil Mistry Bari, Tamizur Rahman’s house near the ward office, Pandit Bari, Chhoto Kali Bari, Jwalakumari Temple, Kattali City Corporation Girls’ High School, Kattali Nurul Haque Chowdhury High School, Chan Mia Doctor’s house, North Saraipara in Alankar, Ashraf Ali Chowdhury Bari in Colonel Hat, Siraj Uddin’s house and Nur Mohammad’s house, Peyari Mohan Sen’s house, Shaher Para, and Tilottoma, the MP Sahib’s drain, Islam Colony and Monohor Khali areas in Ward 34.
