Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday urged every family and every person to spend at least 30 minutes to an hour on two days a week cleaning their homes and surroundings to stop mosquitoes from breeding and help prevent dengue.
“My appeal to you today is this: let every person and every family spend at least 30 minutes to an hour, at least twice a week, cleaning their homes, surroundings and nearby roads to prevent dengue mosquitoes from breeding,” he said.
The prime minister made the call in a video message to the nation posted on his Facebook page.
He also called upon people to join hands with the government to tackle dengue by removing stagnant water and cleaning up waste where Aedes mosquitoes breed. “Let us all try together. If we work together, we can certainly save many lives from the curse of dengue in the coming days,” Tarique Rahman said.
He said people had united to achieve independence in 1971, to overthrow autocracy in 1990 and to make the mass uprising of 2024 successful.
“If we could achieve all these things together, why cannot we contribute a little each and take part in solving the country’s other problems?” the prime minister asked.
He said people of different ages are falling ill and dying from dengue, adding that those who have lost loved ones understood the pain of such a loss.
Tarique Rahman said collective efforts could help prevent many families from suffering the same tragedy.
He said around 2.5 crore students’ study at schools, colleges and universities across the country.
In addition, the Prime Minister said nearly 40 lakh members of organizations such as the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC), Scouts, Girl Guides and the Red Crescent and Red Cross could contribute to the effort.
He said students and members of these organizations have been trying for about a month to clean up rubbish and waste across districts and upazilas every Saturday.
Tarique Rahman said Aedes mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, including in corners of homes, along roads and in places where waste accumulates and allows water to collect.
He noted that a dengue vaccine has been developed but said studies have shown that it is not very effective in treating the disease.
The most effective way to prevent dengue, the prime minister said, is to remove stagnant water and clean up waste where mosquitoes could breed.
He said a government can succeed when it works with people to address the country’s problems.
“My government wants to work with all the people of the country to solve our problems. Solving the country’s problems means solving the problems of you, me and all of us,” Tarique Rahman said.
He urged everyone to take part in the effort, expressing hope that collective action will help save many lives from dengue.
