Dengue situation worrying: HC

The High Court on Thursday dubbed the existing dengue scenario in the country worrying.

“Why isn’t the medicine (to exterminate mosquitoes) working?” the court asked, noting that the people are terrified.

Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice Md Shohrowardi’s bench ordered the two city corporations to inform it how many days they will need to import medicine for controlling mosquitoes responsible for dengue and chikungunya.

The city corporations will have to file affidavits through lawyers within 2pm.

Earlier, Brigadier Generals Md Sharif Ahmed and Md Mominur Rahman Mamun, the chief health officers of Dhaka south and north city corporations respectively, appeared before the court.

Advocate Toufiq inam Tipu and Advocate Syed Ahmed Raza stood for DNCC and DSCC respectively and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Deputy Attorney General Kazi Mainul Hasan represented the state.

At the hearing, Brig Gen Mamun said dengue is a global problem and that the situation in Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines has worsened. “We’ve brought medicine for controlling the mosquitoes but they aren’t working,” he said.

Earlier on July 22, the High Court summoned the chief health officers of the two city corporations of Dhaka to appear before it on July 25 to explain their failure in controlling mosquitoes in the city.

On July 16, the High Court had asked the authorities concerned to take effective measures within 24 hours to destroy Aedes mosquito for preventing the spread of dengue and Chikonguniya.

Dengue, a mosquito-borne disease, infected more than 8,500 people since the beginning of this year and claimed eight lives, according to official figures.

A total of 561 new dengue patients were hospitalised across the country on Wednesday. Of them, 559 were from Dhaka City, according to Dr Aysha Akter, Assistant Director at DGHS.

Local Government Minister Md Tajul Islam on Thursday claimed that the dengue situation was “fully under control”.