Conduct cleanliness drive to fight dengue menace: Quader to councilors

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has called upon all the city councilors and leaders and activists of the party to conduct cleanliness drive in a bid to fight the dengue menace.

“No matter what we say, the dengue outbreak has not yet come under our control. We will have to continue cleanliness drive to this end,” Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, said today.

While addressing a press conference at the party’s Bangabandhu Avenue central office after a special extended meeting, Quader said, “Ensure cleanliness is the pre-condition of destroying breeding ground of the mosquito.”

He said his party, in line with the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has instructed its leaders and activists to carry out cleanliness campaign across the country to fight the dengue.

Claiming that centrally, the party men have carried out the cleanliness programmes as part of its three-day campaign, Quader said, “We took the programme seriously and we will continue it for the sake of the country and its people as well.”

He also expressed his disappointment as councilors of only nine wards out of 109 in the Dhaka city took part in the cleanliness campaign.  

Quader also termed the campaign as an eyewash and said, “There is no need of such photo session as we will not be able to destroy the breeding ground of the mosquito and control the mosquito outbreak through such programme.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has wanted to know how many ward councilors have conducted the campaign and she is maintaining a close connection through different agencies, Quader said.

He also asked Awami League ward presidents and general secretaries to cooperate with the city corporations in carrying out the cleanliness drive.

Stating that aedes is a deadly mosquito, Quader said once it gets chance, the mosquito will bite. He also called upon people to stay alert against the Aedes mosquito and continue cleanliness drives to prevent dengue outbreak.

“We carried out anti-dengue progarmmes in some places, but the Aedes mosquito and its breeding grounds were not destroyed in all places. Dengue outbreak could not be prevented if we do not stay alert,” he said.