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Urban sprawl to blame

Say experts about mosquito menace

Staff Correspondent
Urban specialists yesterday blamed unplanned urbanisation, waste mismanagement, climate change and negligence of the authorities concerned behind this year's dengue outbreak.
They said around 21,235 cases of dengue had been reported in last seven months, and the number may continue to rise until proper initiatives are taken.
They said this while speaking at a dialogue on "Dengue, public health and our urban development plan" at Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) in Dhaka.
Dr Adil Mohammed Khan, general secretary of BIP, said though the two city corporation mayors initiate plans for a healthy Dhaka, they do not give adequate effort for their proper implementation.
"Providing public health services and primary healthcare is a legitimate responsibility of the city authorities as per Local Government (City Corporation) (Amended) Act- 2009," Dr Khan mentioned.
He said dengue outbreak has taken an alarming turn this year. In 2008, none out of 6,110 people infected with dengue died; but in 2018, 26 people died out of 10,148 dengue patients. This year, the death toll has already increased alarmingly, he added.
The BIP general secretary claimed this referring to a report of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
He said almost 50 percent of world's population is leaving under dengue threat due to the current environmental disorder and Dhaka is the most vulnerable.
Ongoing mega projects, environmental mismanagement, unplanned buildings, poor healthcare in remote villages, lack of government surveillance on hospitals and
accumulation of stagnant water have contributed to the rise in mosquito population, he said.
He urged the authorities concerned to take a redevelopment plan for Dhaka in accordance with section 38 of the Urban Development Act-1953.
In his speech, BIP former general secretary Khondaker M Ansar Hossain said dengue outbreak could be prevented by maintaining ecological balance during urban development.
"Preserving all waterways, maintaining proper building code and considering the rapid population growth before initiating any plan must be ensured in this regard," he added.
Architect and urban planner Salma A Shafi blamed lack of good governance behind failure to implement any plan properly. She demanded decentralisation of healthcare system to ensure better medical services and making it viable. It can also be a permanent remedy to such crises, she added.
Urban planner Md Ariful Islam stressed the need for extensive research to find a sustainable solution towards a planned Dhaka.
Among others, eminent educationist Dr Golam Rahman; Maruf Hossain, programme manager of Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust; Eftekhar Ahmed and Jahurul Haque spoke at the event.