The central bus terminal in Mohakhali is one of the transport hubs of Dhaka where many people get off, returning to the capital from their Eid-ul-Azha holidays at their village homes.
But things look really grim for passengers when they are welcomed by stagnant water in the drain, shops, and restaurants, in and around the terminal.
Stagnant water is an ideal breeding ground for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which carries the dengue virus plaguing the country this year more so than in 2018.
According to experts, tyres with trapped stagnant water are the best place for Aedes mosquito to breed its larvae. They also said bus and truck terminals are the most fertile place for mosquito breeding.
Used and damaged tyres with rainwater trapped in them were seen left under the open sky at the Mohakhali Bus terminal yesterday. Most of these tyres had a lot of Aedes larvae and mosquitoes.
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Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam inspected the Mohakhali bus terminal on Monday with leaders of the Bus Owners’ Association and Kabirul Bashar, a Jahangirnagar University zoology professor.
During the visit, the mayor found a drain in the terminal full of waste water which locals said went to Niketon in the Gulshan area.
After the inspection, Professor Kabirul Bashar said: “This is a fertile breeding place. We saw many Aedes mosquitoes flying around the terminal compound.
“A tyre is the most fertile place for Aedes breeding. We found many tyres lying around here in open places.”
Kabirul also said: “This time DNCC spraying insecticide has proven
97 -98 % efficient in killing mosquitoes in a lab test. But due to the lack of manpower, the city corporation is not being able to go from one place to another in the city to spray the insecticide. ’’
Mayor Atiqul said: “I will punish those people who are responsible for creating an unhygienic environment.
“I have also ordered the magistrate to fine owners of open tyres Tk5,000 each. As far as canals are concerned, I will talk to the WASA managing director to clean them.
“If necessary, the city corporation will bear the cost of cleaning immediately.”
Special drive
This correspondent found breeding places at Sayedabad Bus Terminal in Dhaka and at Kamalapur Railway Station as well. According to the expert, these places are threatening public health in Dhaka.
In the midst of all this, and after the death of four more people yesterday, DNCC was set to initiate a program to tackle the ongoing dengue outbreak starting this morning in Ward No 19.
The authorities have divided each ward into 10 sections. Each section will be assigned to 15 cleaners.
Atiqul said: “ DNCC staff will visit every house in every area during the combing operation. They will check for Aedes mosquito larvae in households, offices, organizations, institutions, and terminals.
“Action will be taken if Aedes larvae are discovered in any establishment.”
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He added that first time offenders would be let off with a warning if residential buildings were found to have Aedes larvae.
“A red sticker with the words: “Aedes mosquito larvae have been found in this house,” will be put on that house.
“If Aedes larvae are found again in the house during the second visit in fifteen days, legal action, including fines, will be imposed on the householder,” warned the mayor.
Atiqul also said: “I will also talk to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner to take steps to keep every police station neat and clean and the civil aviation authorities to keep airports clean.”
