Dhaka Risks Spreading Malaria

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman worked his last day at the office last Thursday after feeling a mild fever. As his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to a hospital on Monday. Ultimately, he succumbed to Malaria early Friday morning! This incident has sparked widespread anxiety among city residents, raising the question: Has the Malaria-carrying mosquito spread to the capital, moving beyond its usual hilly habitats?

An immediate investigation by Agamir Somoy reveals that researchers had previously warned the government and the World Health Organization (WHO) that Dhaka is currently at risk of Malaria.

Further investigation shows that last week, Dr. Kabirul Bashar—a prominent entomologist, mosquito research expert, and professor in the Zoology Department at Jahangirnagar University—submitted a research report on the spread of Malaria mosquitoes in the capital to the Dhaka North City Corporation. The report confirmed the presence of Malaria-carrying mosquitoes in various parts of Dhaka, with the highest concentration found in Uttara. Dr. Bashar also expressed his concerns by sending an alert via email to the WHO office in Dhaka.

Regarding the situation, Professor Dr. Kabirul Bashar commented:

"While conducting surveys last week, we found six species of Anopheles mosquitoes (Malaria carriers) in various parts of Uttara. Additionally, we found over 100 carrier mosquitoes of three different types across the capital. Malaria mosquitoes exist in urban areas of many countries worldwide. Therefore, it is incorrect to assume they wouldn't exist in Dhaka."

The primary carrier of Malaria is the female Anopheles mosquito. These mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite, which causes Malaria in humans. Typically, these mosquitoes bite between dusk and dawn.

Records show that in 2025, a total of 16 people died of Malaria accross the country. This marked the highest death toll since 2016. Out of those 16 deaths, nine were members of the Rohingya (refugee) community at Taknaf of Cox's Bazar. While the death toll among the mainstream population had slightly decreased, the death of the Commerce Secretary in the capital has raised fresh concerns. However, researchers noted that since the Secretary had visited Africa 15 days ago, it is suspected he may have contracted the disease during his travels.

Meanwhile, it is not just the Anopheles mosquito; the spread of various other mosquito species is increasing at an alarming rate. Researchers claim that Malaria-carrying mosquitoes are now spreading to many more new areas than before. This comes despite the government’s 2024–2030 action plan, which aims to reduce local Malaria transmission to zero by 2030. Currently, 51 districts in the country are officially claimed to be Malaria-free.

Researcher Mohammad Zahedur Rahman of BRAC University has demonstrated in a study that over the past 30 years, the rate of increase in Bangladesh's annual average maximum temperature has been 0.0183°C per year. Notably, winters are becoming warmer than before, which is prolonging the breeding season for mosquitoes.

The study highlights that the ideal temperature for mosquito breeding is between 26°C and 30°C. Bangladesh's current average temperature—ranging from 25°C to 31°C—creates a highly favorable environment for both mosquitoes and the parasites they carry. Consequently, there is a risk that Malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases will persist for longer durations in Bangladesh in the future.

Another study titled "Disparities in risks of malaria associated with climatic variability among women, children and elderly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh" shows that climate change is influencing Malaria risks in hilly regions in various ways. As temperatures rise, the breeding of mosquitoes and the development of the pathogens occur more rapidly.

The research reveals that:

Children and the elderly face an increased risk of getting infected during periods of excessive rainfall.

Women show a higher prevalence of Malaria during periods of rising temperatures.

Historically, Malaria was always a major public health crisis in Bangladesh. However, coordinated efforts by the government and development partners over the last decade and a half significantly reduced both infection and mortality rates. While more than 55,000 people were infected in 2010, that number dropped to 6,000 by 2012. Unfortunately, this success has not been sustained; the number of infections rose to 16,567 in 2023 and stood at 10,156 in 2025. The risk of the disease has not yet been fully eliminated in the border-adjacent hilly areas.