United News of Bangladesh

Residents across Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) are struggling with an unrelenting mosquito infestation, facing bites day and night with little respite even inside their homes. The worsening situation has reignited concerns over a potential spike in dengue cases during the winter months. Despite SCC spending crores of taka every year on mosquito-control programmes, residents say the efforts have produced no visible improvement, prompting serious questions about the effectiveness of the city authority. According to SCC data, Tk 2.26 crore was allocated for mosquito eradication in the fiscal year 2025–26 — the same amount spent in the previous fiscal year. Read more: Naogaon residents battle dengue surge as urban services falter The funds were used to purchase 4,000 litres of larvicide (Temephos 50 EC) and 25,000 litres of adulticide (Malathion 57 EC) from the Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory. Yet residents insist the services remain grossly inadequate. Many complain that fogging machines appear on the streets only occasionally — sometimes just once or twice a year — leaving several neighbourhoods completely untouched.  The organisation does not have a permanent mosquito-control workforce and instead relies on daily wage earners hired seasonally.  While officials maintain that 30–40 workers are deployed regularly, citizens argue that the efforts make little difference. As the mosquito menace intensifies, dengue infections are also creeping up in Sylhet.  Two people have died of dengue this year, and new cases are being reported every day.  Although SCC claims most of the infected patients are from outside the city, anxiety among residents is rising. Young adults hit hard as Bangladesh logs 593 dengue cases, 3 deaths At the Central Shaheed Minar area, college student Sumon Shawon said even standing outdoors in the evening has become unbearable. “We came here for a chat but within minutes the mosquitoes swarmed us. It’s impossible to sit or talk,” he said, calling for urgent larvicide treatment of drains and stagnant water. Read more: Bangladesh sees October as worst month for dengue deaths Apu, a resident of ward No-17, echoed the frustration, saying the situation is fuelling widespread fear. “There’s fever and cold everywhere. We can’t even tell which is dengue and which is normal flu. Mosquito bites are leaving rashes and allergies, causing more illness,” he said. SCC’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Md Zahidul Islam, admitted the crisis in manpower.  He said around 45 mosquito-control workers and seven supervisors are engaged daily, but the number falls far short of requirements. Ideally, each ward should have four to five workers and a supervisor.  With 42 wards under its jurisdiction, SCC would need more than 200 staff — a capacity the organisation cannot afford due to financial constraints. He said although SCC has recommended permanent recruitment since 2021, various complications have stalled progress. Dr Zahidul pointed out that instead of the monthly insecticide treatments recommended for effective control, the city manages to spray only two to three times a year, resulting in minimal, short-lived benefits. Emphasising the role of public awareness, he said complete mosquito control is impossible without active citizen participation. “If people cooperate, even one or two planned operations a year would be enough. Otherwise, the large amount spent on insecticides will simply go to waste,” he warned. As of 4 December this year, Bangladesh has recorded 394 deaths from dengue nationwide.  During the same period, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) registered 96,627 dengue-affected cases. Read more: Barguna battles relentless dengue surge even in winter

Amid Bangladesh’s ongoing struggle with urban waste management, Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) has made acsignificant progress by establishing the country’s first state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility (MRF). This initiative, developed in collaboration with LafargeHolcim Bangladesh, aims to free the city from plastic and polythene waste. Constructed at a cost of Tk 15.30 crore, the facility is located at the Lalmatia Dumping Ground and represents a pioneering approach to sustainable waste management in Bangladesh. Tackling a Growing Waste Crisis SCC’s conservancy workers collect around 375 tonnes of waste daily, all of which is disposed of at Lalmatia. Over the years, the eight-acre landfill has accumulated an estimated 800,000 tonnes of waste, posing significant environmental risks. Mohammad Ekleem Abdeen, Chief Waste Management Officer at SCC, acknowledged the failure of previous initiatives to deliver effective solutions. But he expressed confidence that the new MRF would revolutionise waste disposal in the city. A Sustainable Waste Management Model LafargeHolcim’s GeoCycle programme plays a crucial role in waste management, utilising its Chhatak cement plant—the only facility in the country capable of producing clinker from imported alternative materials. Hospital waste management in Bangladesh lags behind sustainable standards Latifur Rahman, Senior Manager of GeoCycle Bangladesh, explained that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between SCC and LafargeHolcim in September 2022 to introduce this sustainable system. Following this agreement, construction of the MRF commenced at Lalmatia, and operations officially began in May 2024. Currently, over 60 tonnes of waste are transported daily from Lalmatia to the Chhatak cement plant, where it is processed sustainably. There are plans to increase this volume in the coming years. Eliminating Non-Degradable Waste The MRF separates non-degradable waste, such as plastic and polythene, which is then processed at the cement plant. Latifur Rahman said that the waste is burned at temperatures of approximately 1,500°C, ensuring complete co-processing without any residual environmental pollution. It is estimated that clearing the existing waste at Lalmatia could take seven to eight years, with GeoCycle’s annual waste processing capacity currently standing at 100,000 tonnes. Plans are in place to expand this capacity further. A Model for the Nation Nur Azizur Rahman, Chief Engineer at SCC, praised LafargeHolcim’s GeoCycle technology, highlighting its major contribution to SCC’s vision of a greener, waste-free city. LafargeHolcim Bangladesh’s CEO Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhury confirmed that GeoCycle remains the only waste management method approved by the Department of Environment. SeaKeepers leads the charge in Sundarbans plastic waste management initiative The company currently provides waste management services to various public and private organisations nationwide and hopes to support other city corporations in implementing similar initiatives. A delegation from Narayanganj City Corporation recently visited the MRF and Chhatak cement plant to study the waste management technology and explore opportunities for future collaboration. Call for National Adoption Former SCC Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury, who played a key role in establishing the MRF, remarked that previous efforts had failed to yield results, whereas this approach had proven practical and effective. He urged the government to ensure the facility’s continued operation and suggested that SCC’s initiative could serve as a model for other city corporations across Bangladesh. Urgent Need for Sustainable Solutions According to a study by the Asia-Europe Foundation, 55% of waste in Bangladesh is dumped in the open, with much of it either left uncollected or burned—contributing to severe environmental hazards. This waste blocks urban drainage systems, leading to frequent flooding even after minor rainfall. Experts stress the need to raise awareness and promote sustainable waste management practices to tackle this growing issue. As Bangladesh’s urban population continues to expand, effective waste disposal solutions will be critical to ensuring a cleaner, healthier environment. Waste treatment plant lies inoperative for 3 years in Barguna town Currently, Dhaka ranks among the world’s most polluted cities, with poor waste management identified as a major contributing factor, according to a report by UNFPA. Without urgent intervention, the problem will only worsen. Sylhet’s initiative offers a ray of hope. If adopted nationwide, this sustainable waste management model could transform urban waste disposal across Bangladesh, paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future.    

Chevron Bangladesh donated an ambulance to Sylhet City Corporation (SCC). President and Managing Director of the company Eric M Walker handed over the ambulance to the SCC at its Jalalabad Gas Field Office in Sylhet.  According to Chevron, the ambulance will help SCC in providing healthcare to  the people in Sylhet. Read: Search for gas: Chevron plans drilling in Bibiyana’s flanked area in April Eric M Walker visited Sylhet and Habiganj where he attended events to support the local community as part of its Social Investment Initiatives. Chevron Bangladesh has been able to step in at a moment when the country needs reliable, affordable energy to run its hospitals and emergency facilities. Eric M Walker also visited the Integrated Support for Children with Disabilities (ISCwD) Project at SSKS Clinic, ¬Karimpur, Bibiyana, Habiganj to provide assistive devices among children with disability in one-year program to support children with disabilities aged between 0-18 years and their families and community members living in the project locations. This initiative started in collaboration with Save the Children in March 2022 to support children with disabilities and their parents to get accessible basic services like health, education, and development from mainstream service providers. The ISCwD project aims to benefit 300 Children with Disabilities, 300 Parents and caregivers, 200 School teachers, and 20 local schools. Read: Uttoron: Chevron-funded skill development project draws to a close Chevron Bangladesh has been managing social investment programs since 2006. Chevron is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies, involved in virtually every aspect of the energy industry. Chevron Bangladesh operates three gas fields in the northeast of the country. It is the largest producer of natural gas in Bangladesh, accounting for over 60% of total domestic natural gas production and over 80% of the domestic condensate production.

Authorities plan to set up at least nine more Covid vaccination centres in Sylhet as the city grapples with a devastating second wave of the pandemic. Sylhet City Corporation has already sent a proposal to the Health Department in this regard and awaiting an approval from the latter, officials told UNB on Wednesday. Read:Sylhet-3 by-election postponed until Aug 5 The vaccination drive is currently being carried out at Sylhet MAG Osmani Hospital and Divisional Police Lines Hospital in the city. With the proposed centres, the number of vaccination sites in Sylhet will rise to 11. Md Jahidul Islam Sumon, chief health officer of Sylhet City Corporation, said that such an initiative has been taken to bring dynamism in the vaccination drive amid an alarming surge in Covid-19 cases. "The Corporation's proposal could be approved by the Health Department by this week," he said, adding that the training of 40 health workers has already been completed for manning these proposed centres. Read: All will get Covid vaccine shots, reassures PM Hasina The venues of the proposed vaccination centres are Nagar Bhaban, Matrimangal Hospital, Uttar Par Binodini Nagar Health Center of Dhopadighi, Bagbari Nagar Health Center, Akhalia Biresh Chandra Nagar Health Center, Kadamtali Nagar Health Center, Kazitula Surjer Hasi Clinic, Tilagarh Surjer Hasi Clinic and Shahjalal Upashohor Health Center.

Several vehicles belonging to the Sylhet City Corporation were vandalised Wednesday afternoon as rickshaw pullers clashed with the municipality staff in front of Nagar Bhaban (City Hall). A group of rickshaw pullers were demonstrating in front of Nagar Bhaban demanding the authorities return their battery-powered, or electric rickshaws, that had been seized during an SCC drive. Read: Six Sylhet markets closed as earthquake precaution According to witnesses, SCC staff closed the main gate of Nagar Bhaban as agitated rickshaw pullers attempted to get inside.

The mayor of Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) has ordered the closure of hazardous buildings in the city for 10 days to avoid damage from seismic activity. On Sunday afternoon, City Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury accompanied by executive magistrates and policemen visited some of the buildings at risk including markets in the city and passed this order. Earlier on Saturday the city was jolted by five tremors. READ: Five quakes hit Sylhet According to experts, there is a risk of a large-scale quake in the coming weeks. SCC had been preparing to prevent the loss of lives in case the quake hits. Mayor Ariful told reporters that all buildings in poor condition will be identified; traders and authorities concerned of all hazardous markets and buildings in the city will be instructed for a 10-day closure. People living in hazardous building will have to stay elsewhere for the next 10 days as well, he said READ: Chinese worker's death: Wife files murder complaint against colleague in Sylhet SCC has already identified such buildings in the city and alarmed the concerned people in this regard.

British Deputy High Commissioner Javed Patel has described Sylhet as one of the most beautiful cities in Bangladesh where the ties between the UK and Bangladesh are as strong as ever.

Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) mayor Ariful Haque was admitted to a hospital in the city on Saturday.

Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury and Chief Executive Engineer Nur Ajijur Rahman tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson has expressed deep shock at the death of former mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran.