It is disheartening to see that the mosquito problem seems to have gotten worse in Dhaka this year. To some degree, this is attributable to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has taken up the city corporations’ resources. However, it is dangerous to keep dropping the ball on the mosquito front whenever another crisis is present. The grim fact is, mosquitoes have been a major problem for the residents of Dhaka city for a long time, and in spite of lofty promises, this year it seems we are back to square one. The infestation of mosquitoes is making, once again, life very difficult.
The main problem is that in Dhaka, it is all too easy for mosquitoes to breed. Stagnant pools of dirty water are the ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and in Dhaka we have not managed to clean them up. The mosquito management problem, then, is inextricably tied to the waste management problem, one which we have also failed at.
It is no surprise, then, that year after year, see we see a crisis of dengue fever, with hospitals overloaded with patients. The government, as well as city corporations, must realize the interconnected nature of our urban problems, and tackle them holistically.
We must be uncompromising in the proper disposal of waste. Furthermore, canals must be reclaimed so that water has somewhere to go, instead of flooding our streets with dirty water. If the problem at the source is tackled, the mosquito problem will largely go away on its own. Until then, of course, we need to stay on the case, and focus on mosquito extermination.
