Mosquito menace has made the lives of people unbearable in Naogaon, especially in the municipal area. Children and elderly people are the worst sufferers. With the growing mosquito population, dengue cases are also increasing in the district. In the past three months, 292 people have been infected with the mosquito-borne disease.
Residents complain that although municipal taxes have increased, services have not improved. Due to the authorities’ negligence, no effective measures have been taken to control mosquito breeding. There is also a lack of public awareness campaigns. Garbage piles are seen everywhere, drains are clogged, and irregular mosquito-control activities have led to a widespread mosquito problem across the municipality. On the other hand, municipal authorities claim that they have not received any budgetary allocation for mosquito control in the past two years.
According to the Civil Surgeon’s Office, 120 people were infected with dengue in October this year, 116 in September, and 56 in November. The total number of dengue cases so far this year is 321. However, no deaths have been reported.
During a visit to various parts of the municipality, it was found that local residents had been dumping household waste randomly. Many areas are overgrown with bushes and vegetation. The drains are not cleaned regularly, causing water stagnation and piles of garbage. Mosquito menace has increased as these drains have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Anwar Hossain, a resident of Ukilpara, said, “Drains, canals, and garbage dumps are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. But no steps are being taken to stop mosquito breeding in these places. Yet municipal taxes have been increased.”
Yunus Mondal, a resident of Hospital Road, said, “When we sit to have tea at a shop in the evening, mosquito bites us. The dengue situation is worrying across the country. But the municipal authority is doing nothing for mosquito control. We never see any spraying activities. If this continues, the chances of getting dengue will increase. Effective mosquito-control measures must be taken immediately.”
Sumi Akter, a housewife living in Bangabaria, said, “It has become difficult to stay at home due to mosquito nuisance. Especially after the evening, the situation becomes unbearable. Even using coils or keeping windows and doors closed before dusk doesn’t reduce mosquitoes. The authorities concerned should take measures to reduce mosquito infestation and prevent the spread of dengue.”
Naogaon municipal engineer Sajjad Hossain said, “We haven’t received a mosquito-control budget for the last two years. We are forced to use municipal revenue to conduct mosquito-control activities. We are carrying out mosquito-control work in every neighborhood in phases. However, we are prioritising hand-spray machines over fogger machines. Hand spraying is being used to destroy mosquito larvae.”
Civil Surgeon Dr. Md. Aminul Islam said, “Mosquito control is essential to prevent dengue. We are working to raise awareness among the public. We advise everyone to keep their homes and surroundings clean and remain vigilant.”
