Mosquito Menace Persists Across Capital Despite Billion-Taka Budgets

Staff Reporter

With the monsoon arrives the annual mosquito infestation across Dhaka – alleys, homes, offices, nowhere is spared. Despite increasing budgets each year, effective mosquito control remains elusive, compounding citizens’ suffering.

In FY 2024-25 alone, Dhaka’s north and south city corporations collectively spent nearly 150 crore taka on mosquito control. Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) allocated 110 crore taka while Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) spent 44.47 crore taka. The bulk of these funds – 65 crore and 40 crore respectively – went to insecticide purchases, yet residents continue battling mosquito bites.

From January to May 18 this year, 3,452 dengue cases and 22 deaths were recorded in the capital, raising questions about these massive budgets’ effectiveness.

With 1,463 square kilometers and nearly 20 million residents, Dhaka’s ineffective mosquito control measures perpetuate daily hardships.

Banani resident Sharmin Akhtar said, “Mosquitoes are so rampant we need nets even during daytime.” Residents from Badda’s Almagir Hossain to Jatrabari’s Sabuj Ahmed complain that city corporation spraying remains grossly inadequate, merely eyewash.

Various city corporation initiatives also face scrutiny – from drone surveillance of larvae to releasing frogs/fish, awareness jingles – all appear limited to cosmetic measures.

DNCC’s controversial administrator Mohammad Ejaz acknowledged canceling previous contracts due to contractor negligence, with plans to involve army supervision. DSCC administrator Md. Shahjahan Mia cited regular drives alongside special programs in Dhanmondi and Jatrabari.

Experts identify unplanned urbanization and plastic pollution as root causes. Jahangirnagar University entomologist Dr. Kabirul Bashar noted, “Plastic waste creates ideal breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.”

Over the past decade, the two city corporations spent over 830 crore taka on mosquito control – DNCC about 560 crore and DSCC over 270 crore. Yet ground realities show mosquito nuisance worsening annually.

Ultimately, while budgets swell and strategies change with plentiful promises, citizen suffering remains unchanged – mosquito bites, dengue fears, and authorities’ ineffectiveness continue unabated.