A six-month dengue response operation is being scaled up to reach around 300,000 people in areas experiencing high transmission, with vulnerable communities and families being prioritized.
The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and its partners, will implement the operation in Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong, including camps for displaced people from Rakhine State, Myanmar, and host communities in Cox’s Bazar.
The operation may be expanded to other affected areas as the situation evolves.
The initiative comes as dengue cases have increased sharply following heavy monsoon rains in late August.
According to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) data, 67,367 dengue patients had been hospitalized and 201 deaths had been recorded as of September 23.
During the corresponding period in 2025, more than 43,173 dengue patients had been hospitalized and 184 deaths had been recorded.
“This is a rapidly evolving public health situation, and our volunteers and teams are already supporting communities and coordinating closely with health authorities,” BDRCS Secretary General Md Habibur Rahman Khan said.
“With support from the IFRC and partners, we are strengthening these efforts to reach more people in high-risk areas and help families cope with the health and economic impacts of dengue,” he added.
The BDRCS-IFRC response will complement the government’s ongoing dengue response, led by the DGHS and supported through national and local health coordination mechanisms.
IFRC Head of Delegation in Bangladesh Seval Guzelkilinc said dengue was placing growing pressure on families, communities and health services across Bangladesh.
“While treatment and healthcare support are essential, preventing infections starts at the community level through awareness, early action and efforts to reduce mosquito breeding sites,” she said.
She said: “The strength of the response lies in linking community action with access to timely health services.”
“Through the Bangladesh Red Crescent’s volunteer network and close coordination with health authorities, we can help people protect themselves, access timely support and reduce the impact of dengue on the most vulnerable communities,” she added.
The wider Red Cross and Red Crescent network is also supporting the response. Through existing programs, the IFRC has provided 38,000 NS1 dengue test kits to the DGHS and 50 apheresis kits to the BDRCS Dhaka Blood Centre.
Community engagement and surveillance activities are also ongoing.
Since dengue cases began rising, the BDRCS has supported the national response through community awareness, cleanliness activities, health services and blood centers.
On September 12, it mobilized 1,000 volunteers for the government’s nationwide dengue prevention campaign.
Key activities include:
- Mobilizing 1,000 Red Crescent volunteers to raise awareness about dengue prevention, promote health, conduct household-level awareness activities and organize community clean-up campaigns.
- Supporting public hospitals and BDRCS health facilities with 100,000 units of IV saline, 50,000 dengue test kits, 3,000 triple blood bags, 100 apheresis kits and 2,500 mosquito nets.
- Providing one-time multipurpose cash assistance of Tk10,000 to 2,500 vulnerable dengue-affected households, particularly families facing hospitalization, loss of income and increased healthcare-related expenses.
- Orienting 150 health professionals on the updated national dengue treatment guideline.
