Reza Mahmud :
Residents of Dhaka South City Corporation are surprised after hearing its Mayor Sayeed Khokon’s warning to conduct mobile court into houses for searching aedes mosquitoes as they got no respite from mosquitoes menace.
“We are sufferings from mosquito’s bites every moment but our mayor warned us to conduct mobile court to give us punishment for mosquitoes breeding. We are really surprised over it,” said Rafiqul Islam, a resident of Sayedabad in the city.
He and other in his surrounding areas also alleged that employees of the city corporations spray mosquito repellents in open air and main road areas. They ignored small lanes where the mosquito breeding hotbeds remain untouched.
“As a result mosquito breeding is continuing,” said Kazi Hafizul Islam from Narinda.
Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon on Monday said the mobile court of DSCC would take legal action against house owners if mosquito-breeding grounds are spotted in the residential areas.
“The actions include fines and jail terms against house owners, if Aedes mosquito breeding grounds are found in their houses,” he told while speaking as chief guest at a function at Nagar Bhaban in the city.
The mayor’s warning created panic as well surprise among the people of his jurisdiction.
The residents from Gendaria, Narinda, Wari, Jatrabari, Bashabo and other areas also exposed the same reactions.
Most of them said the city corporation should eliminate mosquitoes first, and then it may try to punish residents.
Residents, especially the guardians of school children are anxious over growing mosquitoes menace in city, and residential houses in particulars.
“The first terminal examination is in the door step. But our children cannot take proper preparation attentively sit to study for mosquito bites in houses even in day time,” said Shayla Zaman, a mother of two school student of a city school in Gendaria. Other guardians of the school students also expressed the same experience.
According to official data, the DSCC allotted Tk over 16 crore and the DNCC allotted Tk 20 crore to eliminate mosquitoes. But the mosquito menace yet to be eliminated because of the stagnant water bodies and small lanes of different areas remain out of spraying.
When contacted, Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon told The New Nation on Wednesday, “We are trying to make city dwellers aware from Aedes mosquitoes breeding places. These mosquitoes are liable for Chikunguniya and Dengue diseases. Every one should know that the Aedes mosquitoes are not breeding in dirty drain water. It is always born in clean water in residential homes. So, the awareness of people must be there to prevent those dangerous diseases.”
Mayor said also, “We never want to make city dwellers embarrassed. We call them to remain alert against Chikungunya to prevent the disease from turning endemic in the city.”
He urged the citizens to clean bushes and water containers in the surrounding areas of every home where Aedes mosquitoes breed.
Replying a query, the mayor said the DSCC is honestly trying to eliminate mosquito menace from its jurisdictions. He also said they have nearly eliminated the problem.
“If anyone gives allegation in certain areas, DSCC will immediately take necessary actions,” he said.
Sources said the aedes mosquitoes are visible in the city earlier this time before its normal breeding time in rainy season. This is why the citizens are panicked over the possible outbreak of chikunguniya and dengue that they have experienced last few years from those mosquito borne diseases.
Both the city corporations have by now started crush programmes against its breedings.
