STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Md Abdus Salam yesterday declared the first Saturday of every month as “cleaning day” to prevent Aedes mosquito-borne dengue and chikungunya and keep the city clean.

The first official cleaning day will be observed on May 9 across DSCC areas.

According to the decisions taken at a Nagar Bhaban meeting, all government offices, residential quarters, educational institutions, areas under Rajuk and Rehab, and privately owned premises will carry out their own cleaning drives and destroy mosquito breeding sites.

Salam said up to 70–80 percent of the problem could be solved if all agencies performed their duties properly.

At least four dengue patients died, while 2,535 were hospitalised this year as of yesterday.

Salam instructed DSCC officials to map high-risk areas across 10 zones and 75 wards.

Md Khalilur Rahman, entomologist of the National Malaria Elimination and Aedes-borne Disease Control Programme at DGHS, said current insecticides remain effective but recommended introducing more advanced larvicides such as BTI for large breeding sites.