DSCC
DSCC realises over Tk 1 lakh in fines from 7 buildings, finding Aedes larvae in most of them
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on Monday found Aedes mosquito larvae in seven houses and under construction buildings during a drive.
After visiting 87 houses and under-construction buildings, ten DSCC mobile court teams fined Tk 1,09500 in seven cases after finding a favourable environment for Aedes mosquito breeding at five of them.
The drive was led by Executive Magistrate Md Haidar Ali, Md Mamun Mia, Md Hasnat Morshed Bhuiyan, Shahin Reza, Md Alamgir Hossain and four of the newly posted executive magistrates in city’s KP Ghosh street, Janatabagh, Raisnagar, Gendaria, Nadipara, and Khilgaon areas.
The magistrates said from next day ten zones under DSCC, ten mobile courts will conduct drives simultaneously to destroy mosquito habitats.
READ: DSCC drive: Aedes larvae found in 5 buildings including DOM-INNO’s
The anti-mosquito drives are being conducted amid a rise in the number of dengue patients with authorities reporting 123 new cases in 24 hours until Monday morning.
For three consecutive days, over 100 patients have been diagnosed with dengue every day adding worries to the country’s health services, already overburdened with growing Covid cases and fatalities.
READ: Destroy aedes-breeding puddles or face penalty, warns LGRD minister
Across Bangladesh, some 468 patients diagnosed with dengue are receiving treatment as of Monday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Most cases have been reported in the capital
10 DSCC teams to monitor removal of sacrificial animal waste
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has formed 10 teams and set up a central control room to monitor the removal of sacrificial animal waste from July 21-24.
Regional executive officers will lead the teams comprised of officials and employees of the city corporation.
A central control room has been set up at the Shitalakkha Hall of Nagar Bhaban to supervise the waste removal activities.
People of Dhaka South can contact the control room through the number 01709900888 up to July 24.
READ: DSCC completes removing sacrificial animal waste
Also, around 385 heavy and light vehicles have been prepared, and the places of sacrifice will be decontaminated through 12 water carts by sprinkling water mixed with antiseptic liquid and bleaching.
Five thousand five hundred cleaners – including DSCC's own, outsourced and primary waste collection service provider staff – will be ready to keep the environment clean.
Also, special bags will be distributed among the DSCC dwellers for storing and disposing of waste.
To protect the environment, about 30 tonnes of bleaching powder and 1,800 litres of liquid disinfectant will be sprayed in the designated places.
READ: Govt seeks people’s assistance for disposing animal wastes
Extortion by any other name
Upon visiting the Demra Staff Quarters area of the capital, UNB photographer Adnan Adid that the sub-tenants were collecting tolls in the name of various vehicle tolls. The extortion was going on in many alleys including the main road from Dhaka North City to Dhaka South City.
Illegal, totally unauthorised tolls of up to Tk30 are collected through receipts from every battery-powered auto rickshaw(which itself is illegal) Laguna, CNG, pickup and truck in this area.
Also read: Corruption, terrorism, extortion will not be tolerated: LGRD minister
The receipts even have separate colours and names. For example, the yellow receipt is called ‘Uttara Chaka’.
The drivers alleged that extortion on the roads of Dhaka South in the name of toll has created chaos on the road. They demanded that Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) take initiatives to stop such extortion in the name of toll.
Also read: Dhaka-Aricha highway blocked protesting extortion
DSCC’s drive to close shops by 8 pm
A special drive aimed at closing shops and markets in areas under Dhaka South City Corporation by 8 pm was conducted on Thursday night to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The drive was conducted in busy shopping hubs like Pir Yemeni Market, Khaddar Market, Gulistan Trade Center, Dhaka Trade Center, Nilkhet Book Market, Chandni Chawk and the New Market area.
DSCC’s executive magistrates Md Munirujjaman and AH Irfan Uddin Ahmed led the drive.
Also read: Building materials on roads: DSCC drive from Dec 1
Covid-19 situation
On Thursday afternoon, for the third time in four days, Bangladesh recorded its highest daily coronavirus cases as the health authorities confirmed 6,469 new infections.
The infection rate jumped to 22.94 percent from 19.9 percent of Wednesday’s when the country recorded 5,358 cases, the highest in months.
On Tuesday, 5,042 cases were recorded and the number was 5,181 on Monday.
Bangladesh had seen a sharp decline in cases and the daily infection rate dropped below 5 percent, but the sudden spurt appears to have caught the health authorities unawares.
There is hardly any bed available at hospitals treating coronavirus patients.
The country’s Covid caseload soared to 617,764 after it recorded its highest-ever single day case count, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Also read: DSCC gets down to work since taking charge of canals, culverts
Govt strengthens protective steps
The daily surge prompted the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to issue an 18-point directive on Monday to prevent the transmission of the virus.
On the same day, the Health Ministry proposed strict measures like partial lockdowns for some places with higher Covid-19 transmission rates.
Also read: DSCC starts drive to bring canals back to life
Other recommendations made by the ministry include closure of amusement centres and picnic spots, ban on religious gatherings, limiting wedding ceremonies, strengthening quarantine systems, limiting passengers in public transport, and limiting attendance in offices.
It also suggested strong enforcement of the ‘no mask, no service’ policy, increasing the number of mobile courts and slapping fines on health guideline violators.
Authorities in various districts have shut down amusement centres and are urging people to wear masks. But a large number of people are still reluctant to follow Covid protocols, putting themselves as well as others around them at risk.
Close shops by 8 pm: Mayor Taposh
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has urged the shopkeepers and owners of business establishments to close those by 8 pm to prevent the transmission of Covid-19.
The DSCC mayor came up with the request while talking to reporters after visiting Gopibagh Boys’ Club field in the city on Wednesday.
Also read:Taposh promises masterplan to solve waterlogging 'soon'
“I’ve two requests to Dhaka dwellers -- please close shops and all business establishments by 8 pm as the Coronavirus infection rate is on the rise again,” the mayor said.
The government has issued a public notice in this regard, he said, adding that the transmission rate will come down if health safety protocols are maintained.
DSCC Chief Executive Officer ABM Amin Ullah, Chief Waste Management Officer Air Commodore Md Badrul Amin, Chief Engineer Rezaur Rahman, Secretary Akramuzzaman were, among others, present.
Also read:Taposh and Khokon going pound-for-pound at each other
Meanwhile, 3,554 people were diagnosed with Covid-19 in Bangladesh in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, the highest number of infections registered by the country in a single day.
Bangladesh also recorded 18 more Covid-related deaths during the period, raising the death toll to 8,738.
With the fresh cases, Bangladesh has seen the worst daily increase since July 15, 2020, pushing up the total infections to 525,994. The infection rate jumped to 13.69 percent from 11.19 percent a day before.
Bangladesh is seeing an alarming rise in coronavirus infections in the past few weeks after a downtrend in both the death toll and new cases.
On January 19, Bangladesh reported its virus infection rate at just 5 percent and at one stage it fell below 3 percent. The cases have started soaring again since February 9.
Also read:Taposh wins DSCC election by big margin
Bangladesh reported its first Covid-19 cases on March 8, 2020, and the first death on March 18 the same year.
In Bangladesh, Covid-19 tests are conducted at 118 government and private hospitals.
Irfan Selim relieved from narcotics case
Irfan Selim, son of Awami League leader Haji Selim and former ward councillor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), was relieved on Monday from a case filed with Chwakbazar Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act.
DSCC to halt unauthorised housing projects
While visiting South City Corporation’s Fakirkhali area of Ward No. 75 on Wednesday, DSCC Mayor Barrister Sheikh Taposh instructed the Regional Executive Officer and Property Officer to stop all "housing projects" lacking the proper clearances from the authorities in the Area No. 6 of South City.
First piloting of Ghatarchar-Kanchpur route to be completed in 2021: Taposh
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Tuesday said he hoped that the first piloting of the proposed bus route from Ghatarchar to Kanchpur will be completed within this year.
Dhaka cleaners threaten to stop waste collection
The Primary Waste Collection Service Providers (PWCSP) on Tuesday threatened to stop collecting household wastes if they are not given authority to provide certificates and attestation to the cleaners within seven days.
Dhaka South City Corporation Inter-ward Sports Competition begins February 10
The first-ever Dhaka South City Corporation Inter-Ward Sports Competition’ 2021 begins on February 10 through football tournament at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here.