Ashraful Islam Ashraf
Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam on Saturday said strict action will be taken against those found responsible in Aedes mosquito breeding through water accumulated in and around their homes, despite repeated warnings.

“It is difficult for the city corporation to kill mosquitoes, going door to door. So, city dwellers are being made aware through campaigns. Entire communities cannot be harmed due to the negligence of a few. This is a punishable crime. If the mosquito breeding grounds are not destroyed, legal action will be taken against the negligent people by conducting mobile courts from the two city corporations,” he said.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of Aedes Mosquito, Dengue and Chikungunya awareness campaign organised by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) in Mirpur last morning.

Tajul Islam said the two city corporations have already appointed 10 magistrates to run the mobile courts. The negligent people will be held accountable through conducting mobile courts. He further added that “public awareness can protect us from this mosquito infestation.”As part of this, we are running this campaign. Reducing the Aedes mosquito is not possible without the involvement of the people. Controlling this Aedes mosquito will not be difficult if all people participate spontaneously. He called for the participation of all to stop the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes.

Realizing the horrors of 2019, he said that although the IEDCR had predicted a triple the number of attacks and deaths in the following year, that prediction had proved false with the participation of the ministry, two city corporations and people from all walks of life.
Later, he distributed awareness leaflets among the people and inspected several houses, affixed stickers on the Aedes mosquito breeding grounds and directed the mobile court to take necessary action.

During the time, mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Md. Atiqul Islam, Helaluddin Ahmed, Senior Secretary, Local Government Department and Chanchal Chowdhury, playwright were present among others.