State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam on Wednesday informed Parliament of the government’s measures to contain the outbreak of dengue, saying the situation has become alarming in all divisions except Sylhet, Rajshahi and Rangpur.
“I would like to inform you that the disease is in an alarming situation in all divisions except Sylhet, Rajshahi and Rangpur,” he said, making a statement under Rule 300 of the Rules of Procedure in the House.
The state minister urged the Members of Parliament (MPs) to cooperate with the government’s three-month dengue prevention and cleanliness campaign as well as raise awareness among the people to keep their houses and surroundings clean in their respective constituencies.
He said September, October and November are considered the most alarming period for dengue.
According to Shahe Alam, 45,475 dengue patients were admitted to hospitals across the country from January 1 to September 8, while 130 people died from the disease during the period.
Currently, 3,218 dengue patients are undergoing treatment, he said.
The state minister said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a meeting on Tuesday with the Ministry of LGRD and Co-operatives and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to discuss dengue prevention and treatment measures.
“Considering the preventive measures, the Prime Minister has declared a national three-month dengue prevention and cleanliness campaign from September 12 to December 12, 2026,” he said.
The Prime Minister himself will formally inaugurate the campaign at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad on September 12, Shahe Alam added.
He said the campaign will be conducted nationally every Saturday throughout the three-month period, while city corporations and municipalities will conduct cleanliness activities every day.
As the Prime Minister inaugurates the campaign on September 12, the campaign will also be launched simultaneously in 11 city corporations, 330 municipalities, 64 districts and 503 upazilas, the state minister said.
He said the authorities identify dengue patients and their addresses and assess the situation based on the patients’ locations.
“The number of affected patients is much higher in Khulna, Barishal, Dhaka, Chattogram and Mymensingh divisions, and there are also a large number of breeding grounds for Aedes mosquito larvae in these areas,” Shahe Alam said.
He urged MPs, as elected representatives of the people, to work to raise public awareness about cleanliness. “I would request my honourable colleagues, the MPs, to work to increase awareness among the people about cleanliness,” he said.
The state minister urged everyone to keep their homes and surroundings clean and remove garbage and stagnant water from courtyards, rooftops and other places where Aedes mosquito larvae can breed.
He said five beds have been kept ready separately for dengue patients at upazila-level hospitals.
Shahe Alam also said the government has adequate stocks of dengue testing kits and saline.