DNCC mayor ‘not getting city dwellers’ coop’ to destroy mosquito

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayor Atiqul Islam on Wednesday claimed that they were not getting cooperation from the city dwellers in conducting the combing operation to destroy Aedes mosquito larvae at houses, UNB reports.

“While conducting combing drive, our city corporation officials are facing obstacles by house owners as they’re not allowing them to go inside,” UNB quotes the mayor as saying.

The mayor came up with the remarks while speaking at a meeting on Aedes mosquito elimination drive at a convention centre in the city’s Gulshan area.

Narrating his own experience, Atiqul said he had to wait for at least 45 minutes at some houses to carry out drives. “They (house owners) kept their lifts inoperative and didn't allow us to go up to rooftops saying that keys were missing.”

He said the DNCC officials are finding it difficult to continue the drive to destroy the mosquito breeding grounds due to noncooperation by house owners. “So, we’ll take actions from now on under sections 183, 187, 269 and 270 of the Penal Code of 1860 against those who will try to create obstacles to conducting the drive.”

In light of their experience from their pilot operation at DNCC’s ward No. 19, the mayor said they will carry out the combing drive in the remaining 35 wards from Sunday. “I think city dwellers will cooperate with us and the councillors will play their due role in this regard.”

Speaking at the programme, local government and rural development minister Md Tajul Islam said their ministry will provide all-out support to the city authorities for fighting against dengue and Aedes mosquitoes. “We request our councillors to play a proactive role in eliminating Aedes mosquitoes.”

He voiced satisfaction over the DNCC role to destroy the breeding grounds of Aedes mosquitoes.