Govt to buy machines to clean city canals: LGRD Minister

The government is going to buy ultra-modern machines from Germany to clean city corporation canals, a move that will curb dengue infection in the country, said Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam.

The minister made this disclosure during an inter-ministerial meeting held virtually on Thursday.  

These machines will be used to remove floating garbage and water hyacinth from canals in all city corporation areas of the country, Tajul Islam said.

These machines will ensure proper water flow in the canals and destroy breeding grounds of mosquitos, he added.

The minister also called for all city corporation mayors to keep monitoring standing water bodies to ensure that mosquito larvae are not breeding in offices and other establishments in their respective jurisdictions.

82 dengue patients identified so far

82 dengue patients have so far been identified this year in the country.

Afsana Alamgir Khan, deputy manager of National Malaria Elimination and Aedes Transmitted Diseases Control Programme, gave this information during the meeting.

April to October is the peak time for dengue outbreak in the country.

Since April this year, the country has recorded a low number of dengue infections, compared to the same period last year with 306 patients.

Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor, Md Atiqul Islam, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Gazipur City Corporation Mayor, Jahangir Alam, Khulna City Corporation Mayor, Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Chief Coordinator for SDG Affairs at the Prime Minister's Office, Zuena Aziz, and Dhaka Wasa Managing Director, Taqsem A Khan, were among others who joined the meeting.