The dengue situation in the capital Dhaka and across the country is deteriorating, with the number of infections and deaths steadily rising. Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) remains the most affected, with 60% of the reported deaths originating from this area.
According to data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 45,960 individuals have been hospitalised due to dengue this year, with 226 fatalities.
Of these, 118 deaths occurred within Dhaka South City, where approximately 9,500 residents have been admitted to hospitals with dengue.
A survey of several government hospitals in Dhaka, including Mugda Medical College Hospital—one of the main facilities treating dengue patients—reveals that 92 dengue patients are currently admitted, the majority from Dhaka South City Corporation.
The worst-affected areas within this city include Jatrabari, Shanir Akhra, Khilgaon, and Maniknagar.
An analysis of the DGHS’s daily dengue reports highlights that Dhaka continues to lead in dengue cases nationwide.
Dhaka South City tops the list with 9,684 cases and 118 deaths, followed by Dhaka North City, where 9,461 cases and 34 deaths have been reported.
Chattogram Division ranks third with 8,663 cases. In contrast, the fewest cases have been recorded in the Gazipur City Corporation area.
Despite this alarming situation, over the past 12 years, Dhaka's two city corporations have collectively spent Tk1,200 crore on mosquito eradication efforts.
For the current fiscal year alone, the mosquito control budget for Dhaka's two cities totals Tk152.85 crore, with Dhaka North allocated Tk121.84 crore and Dhaka South Tk31.01 crore.
Public health experts warn that the dengue season may extend through November and December, with the outbreak expected to peak next week before it starts to decline.
The situation this year is more critical compared to last year. They advise the public to take personal precautions rather than relying solely on city corporations for protection.
In response to queries regarding the disproportionately high number of dengue cases in Dhaka South, Dr Fazle Shamsul Kabir, the chief health officer of Dhaka South City Corporation, criticised the DGHS report, calling it "gravely mistaken."
He claims that the dengue situation is under control in Dhaka South.
Dr Kabir asserts that many major hospitals, including Mugda Medical College, are located in Dhaka South, and the DGHS report counts all patients admitted to these hospitals, even those from other areas, as South City residents.
However, he argues that their internal data shows only one-quarter of the figures reported by the DGHS.
When asked about their dengue response strategy, Dr Kabir explained that Dhaka South does not base its plans on the DGHS’s statistics.
"We prepared our dengue control plan at the beginning of the year in January, and we are continuing to work according to that strategy," he said.
On the question of how effectively they have managed to control the outbreak, Dr Kabir maintained that "the situation is completely under control and will remain so."
