The decision was taken in a meeting presided over by the minister on the eradication of mosquitoes and prevention of dengue, which go hand in hand, at the Secretariat.

Two city corporations, Cantonment area and private air flight authorities would jointly begin the anti-mosquito drive as part of their joint effort.

Ministry and directorates would take care of the management of government buildings, lake, park and canals during the incumbent long holiday but City Corporations would operate the anti-mosquito drive, the minister said.  

A steering committee led by LGRD Minister would be formed in this regard with representatives of all concerned ministries, departments and associations, said Public Relation Officer of the ministry Mahmudul Hasan.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a video conference on March 30, directed two city mayors of Dhaka and LGRD minister to take necessary measures to prevent mosquito and dengue along with fighting the outbreak of coronavirus or COVID-19.

Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor, Md Atiqul Islam, Local Government Department Senior Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed, Housing Ministry Secretary Md Shahid Ullah Khandakar and Agriculture Ministry secretary Md Nasiruzzaman were also present in the meeting.

Although no new dengue case was reported in the last 24 hours until 8am on Thursday, the country experienced a massive dengue outbreak, the worst ever in the country, last year when 101,354 people were hospitalised and at least 169 died across the country according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).