Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Stresses Awareness and Cleanliness to Prevent Dengue

Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam has called for greater public awareness and a clean environment to prevent dengue. He said every individual, family and section of society must be conscious about the disease, keep homes and surroundings clean, and make sure the illness is kept at bay.

He made the remarks on Saturday at 10am while speaking as chief guest at a programme marking the National Dengue Prevention and Cleanliness Campaign-2026, organised by the Rajshahi district administration at the district swimming pool premises. The slogan of this year's campaign was ‘Be aware to prevent dengue, stay healthy’.

The deputy commissioner said everyone must pay special attention so that water does not accumulate anywhere and turn into a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Standing water is the main source of breeding for the dengue-carrying mosquito, so vigilance at every home and workplace is essential, he noted.

He added that the administration's initiative alone is not enough to prevent dengue; active participation of ordinary people is extremely important. Even if the administration runs drives, mosquito breeding cannot be fully stopped unless every family is conscious on its own, he said.

He urged people to regularly clean standing water on rooftops and in flower tubs, discarded containers, drums and other places. Everyone must play a responsible role from their own position to stop mosquito breeding, he said.

Speakers at the programme said the risk of dengue can be reduced to a great extent by maintaining cleanliness and raising public awareness. Alongside government initiatives, social awareness and collective effort therefore need to be strengthened.

The programme placed special emphasis on raising awareness about dengue prevention, carrying out regular cleanliness activities and destroying mosquito breeding sites. It was also said that these activities should continue on an ongoing basis rather than being confined to a single day.

Among the special guests present were Local Government Deputy Director (Deputy Secretary) Nazrul Islam, Senior Assistant Commissioner (Land Acquisition branch) Md Arif Hossain, Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Md Borhan Uddin Antar, and District Sports Officer Jahangir Hossain.

Officials of different levels of the district administration and other concerned persons also took part. The Rajshahi programme, held as part of the national campaign, involved local-level representatives alongside the administration.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease, and keeping the environment clean is considered the most effective way to prevent its outbreak. The larvae of this mosquito breed in accumulated clean water, so preventing water from collecting inside and around homes is the core of prevention — a message repeated throughout the programme.

In his speech, the deputy commissioner called on every citizen to begin this cleanliness work from their own home and workplace. When individual awareness comes together, he said, it turns into social awareness and the risk of dengue comes down.

As part of the National Dengue Prevention and Cleanliness Campaign-2026, awareness activities and cleanliness drives will continue across the district, it was said at the programme. The administration also spoke of running regular operations to destroy mosquito breeding sites.