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announced a nationwide cleanliness drive, starting March 14, to curb dengue and chikungunya.

He urged citizens to clean their homes and surroundings every week and directed public representatives to organise weekly cleanliness campaigns with community participation.

Despite the initiative, dengue infections outside Dhaka remain high, and experts warn the situation could worsen during the monsoon without effective interventions.

Entomologist GM Saifur Rahman attributed the spread outside Dhaka to multiple factors, including poor drainage systems, expanding breeding sites, inadequate public awareness, weak control measures, increased mobility, and the lack of a coordinated national strategy.

“Government initiatives have largely been concentrated in city corporations, some of which have established control systems. Outside these urban areas, however, a comprehensive national control mechanism has yet to be developed.”

Saifur, an associate professor at the National University of Bangladesh, said the southern region remains particularly vulnerable because mosquito populations were already high in previous seasons, while control efforts remained inadequate.

“The virus has already spread beyond Dhaka. If breeding sites are not eliminated, transmission will continue from these focal points.”

Prof Kabirul Basar, an entomologist at Jahangirnagar University, said the rising number of cases outside Dhaka may partly reflect lower population immunity compared with the capital, where dengue has circulated for more than two decades.

“Many Dhaka residents have already been exposed to different dengue serotypes and developed antibodies. Outside Dhaka, the risk of infection remains higher, while mosquito control and environmental management are often weaker.”

REGIONAL HOTSPOTS

In Barishal, dengue cases have nearly tripled over the past three months, although no deaths have been reported.

Dr Lokman Hossain, acting director of the Barishal Divisional Health Office, said infections have been rising since Eid-ul-Azha.

“We have prepared for possible shortages of medical supplies and arranged mechanisms to transfer resources if necessary,” he said, stressing that public awareness and proper environmental management remain essential.

Health officials said Barguna, Pirojpur, and Bhola had previously emerged as dengue hotspots.

Barishal Civil Surgeon Dr S M Monzur-E-Elahi said coordination meetings and awareness rallies had been organised, while City Corporation CEO Md Rezaul Bari said cleanliness drives had been intensified and leaflets distributed.

However, they said stagnant water remains in several canals, including the Jail Canal, and in low-lying areas, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

In Rajshahi, a pre-monsoon DGHS survey found dengue-risk indicators well above the World Health Organization’s recommended threshold. The survey recorded a Breteau Index (BI) of 30.66, significantly higher than the level considered high-risk for dengue transmission.

According to entomologists, a BI above 20 is considered high risk.

Rajshahi City Corporation Administrator Md Mahfuzur Rahman said a two-week special drive launched in mid-June includes cleanliness campaigns, insecticide spraying, and larvicide application. RCC also organised a public-awareness rally on June 6.

Meanwhile, health authorities in Chattogram launched a 10-day entomological and dengue survey on June 8 to identify breeding grounds ahead of the peak transmission season.

For the survey, larvae samples were collected from vulnerable neighbourhoods, including Patharghata, Firingee Bazar, Bakalia, Anderkilla, Momin Road, Nandankanon, Shershah, Kazir Dewri, and Bagmoniram.

Sharful Islam Mahi, mosquito-control officer of Chattogram City Corporation, said Aedes larvae have already been detected in Bayezid, Bakalia, and Kotwali. “A 60-member team is working in those hotspots, and the city has sufficient stocks of larvicides and insecticides to last six months.”

In Khulna, residents and health experts said inadequate ward-level monitoring is undermining prevention efforts, although the city corporation launched an early mosquito-control campaign in mid-March, following the prime minister’s directives.

Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Monju said preparations and awareness activities had been intensified. However, residents alleged that clogged drains and stagnant water remain widespread.

In Rangpur, residents are facing a severe mosquito infestation linked to pollution and stagnant water in the Shyamasundari Canal.

City Corporation Chief Health Officer Kamruzzaman Ibne Taj said Culex mosquitoes remain the dominant species.

Administrator Mahfuz Un Nabi Don said the city needs at least 150 fogging machines but currently has only 72. He blamed poor waste management and low public awareness for worsening mosquito breeding.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE

Public health experts warned that stronger surveillance, community participation, and sustained mosquito-control efforts would be crucial during the monsoon to prevent a sharp rise in dengue infections outside Dhaka.

Prof Kabirul said dengue transmission can be controlled by disrupting the “epidemiological triangle” -- the interaction among the source of infection, mosquito vectors, and the environment.

“To stop transmission, at least one side of this triangle must be broken. Controlling mosquitoes, preventing infected patients from getting bitten, or eliminating breeding sites can interrupt the transmission cycle.”

GM Saifur, meanwhile, called for stronger public-awareness campaigns, dedicated vector-control teams, and the systematic elimination of breeding sites at schools, colleges, bus terminals, construction sites, and other high-risk locations.

“Simply conducting symbolic inspections is not enough. Trained personnel must identify and destroy breeding sites.”

Md Robiul Islam, deputy secretary of the Local Government Division, said all 330 municipalities and 11 city corporations have been directed to strengthen cleanliness drives and mosquito-control operations.

“We are regularly discussing dengue prevention with local authorities and have convened meetings of the national committee to coordinate further actions.”

(Our correspondents Chattogram, Barishal, Khulna, Rangpur and Rajshahi also contributed to the report.)