Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today directed the authorities concerned to step up cleanliness and public awareness campaigns across the country engaging people from the grassroots to contain the spread of dengue.

He gave the directives at a meeting on the dengue situation and measures to combat the disease at Bangladesh Secretariat.

The meeting also discussed strengthening treatment facilities and patient-management capacity at upazila-level hospitals, as well as supplying mosquito nets to hospitalized dengue patients to reduce the risk of transmission.

The Prime Minister stressed greater public participation in dengue prevention rather than relying solely on government agencies.

He called for raising awareness about keeping homes and their surroundings clean, removing stagnant water and garbage, and preventing mosquito breeding grounds.

Tarique Rahman also directed the authorities to involve disaster management volunteers, BNCC, Rover Scouts and Red Crescent workers in cleanliness and awareness campaigns, saying local-level drives should be conducted by engaging people through them.

Emphasising the effective implementation of the decisions taken at the meeting, the Prime Minister said, “This must be reflected on the ground.”

He directed all concerned to work in a coordinated manner, with greater emphasis on prevention, and stressed extensive awareness campaigns to ensure public participation in cleanliness activities.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. M A Muhit, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Health Dr SM Ziauddin Hyder, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam and Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Dr. Md Shakirul Islam Khan, among others, attended the meeting.

Secretaries and senior officials of the concerned ministries and divisions were also present.