Mosquito control in Dhaka at risk amid diesel shortage

The war in the Middle East has triggered a global fuel crisis. Long queues for diesel at filling stations now a daily scene in Bangladesh. Amid this situation, concerns have emerged that mosquito control operations in Dhaka could be disrupted due to a shortage of diesel.

In the capital’s two city corporations—Dhaka North and Dhaka South—adult mosquito control is carried out through fogging, a process that generates insecticide smoke using machines. This operation is conducted every afternoon. Diesel is required to prepare the fogging mixture, but officials from both city corporations say contractors are unable to find sufficient diesel.

Sources said that Dhaka North City Corporation currently requires around 325,000 litres of diesel for fogging, while Dhaka South City Corporation needs about 200,000 litres. Alongside contractors, authorities of the both city corporations are also contacting relevant government departments to secure the required supply.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) uses malathion for fogging, mixed at a rate of five per cent with per litre of diesel. Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), on the other hand, uses deltamethrin, mixed at 0.1 millilitres per litre of diesel.

There are 54 wards under DNCC, requiring about 1,100 litres of malathion (mixed with diesel) daily for fogging. As of 30 March, DNCC had nearly 27,000 litres of malathion in stock, enough to continue mosquito control operations for at least 25 days (until 25 April).

Meanwhile there are 75 wards under DSCC. Officials could not immediately provide figures on daily requirements or current stock levels of deltamethrin. However, officials from the corporation’s health department said they have enough insecticide supplies to run mosquito control operations for approximately one month.

Mosquito infestation has increased in the capital recently, prompting calls from residents and various quarters to intensify control efforts. However, the ongoing diesel shortage in the meantime has raised fears that the mosquito problem could worsen further.

Anticipating the need for insecticide, the Stores and Procurement Department of Dhaka North City Corporation issued a new work order on 12 March worth Tk 162.9 million (16.29 crore) to purchase malathion.

Under this order, contractor MR Enterprise has been asked to supply 360,000 litres of malathion by 11 May. According to the work order, the contractor must supply the malathion already mixed with diesel. As existing stocks are running low, DNCC officials are urging the contractor to begin supply quickly.

Meanwhile, contractor Habibur Rahman Gazi has informed in writing that he is unable to supply the insecticide due to the diesel shortage. He has also submitted a written application seeking a recommendation to obtain diesel. In the application submitted Tuesday, he stated that he is not unable to find diesel to prepare the malathion.

The letter further states that 327,000 litres of diesel are required to produce 360,000 litres of malathion. It requests the administrator to recommend to government oil companies to ensure the necessary diesel supply.

Contractor Habibur Rahman told Prothom Alo that if diesel is available, his factory can produce 18,000 litres of malathion per day (in one shift). Production can be doubled by operating day and night in two shifts. However, diesel is not available. Despite efforts through the district administration and the city corporation, there has been no response so far. Without prompt access to diesel, supply will not be possible.

DNCC chief health officer Brigadier General Imrul Kayes Chowdhury told Prothom Alo that the city corporation has also contacted government oil companies regarding diesel. It is hoped that contractors will receive diesel by 7 April, and therefore there will be no crisis.

Officials responsible were asked about the daily requirement of deltamethrin for fogging operations in Dhaka South City Corporation and how many days’ supply is currently in stock. However, they were unable to provide this information immediately. It is also learnt that, despite concerns over a possible shortage, no calculations have been made regarding daily demand and stock levels.

However, Dhaka South City Corporation chief executive officer Zahirul Islam sent a letter to the chairman of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) on 11 March, requesting the supply of 200,000 litres of diesel for processing mosquito insecticide, deltamethrin.

The letter states that a work order has been issued to contractor Forward International (BD) Limited to supply 621,520 litres of deltamethrin. Of this, the contractor has been asked to urgently provide 200,000 litres. However, the contractor has reported that the diesel required for processing the insecticide is not available.

The letter also highlights that mosquito infestation has increased compared to last year and warns that without diesel, mosquito control operations will be disrupted, leading to greater public suffering.

When asked whether the diesel shortage has been resolved, Zahirul Islam told Prothom Alo Tuesday that the issue is being addressed through the contractor. He added that DSCC currently has insecticide stocks sufficient for two to two and a half months. If supply normalises within this period, there will be no problem in continuing mosquito control operations.