DENGUE fever has once again reared its deadly head in Bangladesh, turning what should have been a manageable public health challenge into a national emergency. Year after year, the story repeats itself with grim familiarity — rising infection rates, overflowing hospital wards, desperate families, and belated government action. The tragedy of it all is that much of this could have been prevented.
According to recent data, the first 10 months of this year alone saw over 70,000 reported dengue infections, with 278 deaths. October alone recorded a staggering 42 per cent increase in cases compared to September — a clear sign that the outbreak is spiralling beyond control. What’s worse, the figures from past years suggest that the authorities have failed to learn from experience. In 2023, Bangladesh reported over 300,000 hospitalised dengue cases and 1,705 deaths — the highest in the country’s history. In 2024, the number of infections exceeded 100,000, claiming another 575 lives. These numbers tell a story of neglect, not inevitability.
For more than a decade, entomologists have been warning of the same danger: unless the breeding grounds of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary carrier of the dengue virus, are systematically destroyed before the monsoon season, outbreaks will continue to worsen. They have repeatedly emphasised that eliminating mosquito larvae is not rocket science; it is, in fact, the simplest and most effective way to control the disease. Yet, every year, the authorities wait until hospitals are overwhelmed before taking visible action — fogging machines appear on city streets, awareness campaigns are hastily launched, and political leaders issue empty assurances. By then, it is too late.
The irony is that the government does conduct pre-monsoon entomological surveys each year to assess mosquito density and predict the risk of outbreaks. These surveys have consistently revealed the same findings — that water tanks, stagnant floor water and household containers such as plastic drums, flower pots and discarded tires serve as the main breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The highest concentration of Aedes larvae has been found in multi-storey buildings — particularly in urban areas like Dhaka and Chattogram, where rooftop water tanks and flower trays are left unchecked.
This year’s pre-monsoon survey painted an even bleaker picture. In January, an unusually high density of mosquito larvae was detected in multiple districts. Experts sounded the alarm early, warning that unless a coordinated eradication drive was launched immediately, the country could face another devastating dengue season. Their prediction, tragically, proved right.
So why does Bangladesh find itself trapped in this deadly cycle year after year? The short answer is negligence — systemic, administrative and civic. The longer answer involves a breakdown of coordination between government agencies, local authorities and the public.
First, the issue of accountability. The city corporations, tasked with mosquito control, have been reactive rather than proactive. Instead of year-round monitoring, most anti-mosquito drives are launched only after dengue cases rise sharply. Public funds are spent on fogging machines that often use ineffective or expired insecticides. Worse, the fogging merely kills adult mosquitoes while leaving larvae untouched — ensuring that the next generation of mosquitoes emerges within days.
Second, urban planning failure. The explosive growth of Bangladesh’s cities has created an ideal breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes. Poor drainage systems, uncollected garbage and rooftop water storage have combined into a perfect storm. Construction sites and discarded materials provide endless small pools of stagnant water. In many residential areas, there is little to no municipal monitoring to ensure proper waste management or water storage practices.
Third, there is a persistent lack of public awareness and community participation. Despite repeated media campaigns, many citizens remain unaware of how their household habits contribute to dengue breeding. Old tires left in backyards, flowerpots collecting rainwater or unsealed water containers can become death traps. Dengue prevention cannot succeed through government action alone — it requires civic discipline and social responsibility.
But perhaps the most alarming aspect is the absence of a long-term strategy. Bangladesh’s health sector has historically treated dengue as a seasonal nuisance rather than a permanent threat. There is no sustained investment in mosquito control infrastructure, no permanent vector surveillance system, and limited capacity for early detection. Even though dengue is now a year-round risk, most control measures disappear once the rains end.
Meanwhile, neighbouring countries have demonstrated what determined public policy can achieve. Singapore, for instance, faced similar challenge decades ago but managed to bring dengue under control through an integrated approach — combining strict municipal enforcement, public education and continuous surveillance. Malaysia and Sri Lanka have also invested in data-driven dengue management systems. Bangladesh could easily adopt similar models, but political will and bureaucratic commitment remain elusive.
The human cost of this failure is staggering. Behind every statistic lies a personal tragedy — a child dying in a crowded hospital ward, a family unable to find platelets for a loved one, a worker losing income due to illness. The economic toll is equally severe. The World Bank estimates that dengue outbreaks cost countries billions in lost productivity and healthcare expenses. For a developing nation like Bangladesh, the financial burden is unsustainable.
The path forward demands a fundamental shift — from reaction to prevention, from temporary drives to sustained systems. Authorities must prioritise pre-monsoon mosquito eradication programmes that target larvae in high-risk areas. Local government coordination must be tightened, with transparent reporting and third-party monitoring. The health ministry should establish a national dengue control task force that works year-round, not just during crises.
At the community level, awareness campaigns must move beyond slogans. Schools, workplaces and local councils should actively involve residents in weekly cleaning drives. Strict penalties should be enforced against property owners who allow breeding sites to persist. Technology can play a vital role too — smartphone-based reporting systems could enable citizens to flag potential mosquito hotspots for quick action.
Finally, the crisis should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers. Climate change, urbanisation and inadequate waste management are all intensifying dengue’s spread. Without forward-looking policies, the disease could soon become endemic, straining Bangladesh’s health infrastructure beyond repair.
It is not too late to change course. But time is running out. Dengue is no longer a seasonal inconvenience — it is a national emergency demanding year-round vigilance. The lesson, written in blood over the past decade, is clear: prevention delayed is disaster guaranteed.
Bangladesh must act now, not when the hospitals are full and the headlines scream tragedy. The fight against dengue begins long before the monsoon — it begins with responsibility, foresight and the simple recognition that public health cannot be left to chance.
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MA Hossain is a political and defence analyst based in Bangladesh.
