Mosquitoes wreak havoc on port city

CCC usually comes up each year with anti-mosquito drive styled 'crash programme' amidst much publicity in local dailies that hardly brings remedy to the woes and sufferings of city people.

Although another crash programme is being carried out, the city corporation is yet to go for a massive anti-mosquito drive to give some solace to the three-and-half million people here.

As a result, city dwellers are forced to keep additional budget to buy aerosol or coils or other repellents to protect themselves from mosquito bite.

But slum dwellers and poorer section of the city remained the worst sufferers as they can't afford those expensive mosquito repellents.

"I've to buy two aerosols a month since the mosquito menace has gotten out of control in recent times. One of my daughters is just recovered from dengue fever. She had gone through painful sufferings in those days and now, although my child is safe and sound, she still gets panicky having the little flying objects in sight all the time," said Dr Matiar Rahman Khan, the Resident Surgeon (General) of Chittagong Medical College Hospital on Sunday.

He said "In view of the uncontrollable situation, I screened all the windows of my residence with netting at a fair amount of money. The expensive method has reduced mosquito attacks a little bit but not as much as I was expecting."

"I shut all the doors and windows hours before the dusk as a protection of mosquito invasion of my house at night," said Shib Kumar Das residing in densely-populated Dewan Bazar area. "The trick often gives us poor result as mosquitoes are found more smarter," he added.

Residents of Katalganj, Kapashgola, Sholoshahar, Lalkhan Bazar, Chawk Bazar, Bakalia, Madarbari and Agrabad, where mosquito menace is relatively high, alleged of authority's sluggishness in fighting the problem.

Faisal Islam of Agrabad Forest Colony, said "We hardly find the CCC men in action in our area."

The authorities concerned denied the allegations saying, "the lack of civic sense is responsible for the rise of breeding grounds of mosquitoes in the port city."

An official said, "Various types of plastic containers and tin cans dumped by residents at dustbins or other spots are found to be the ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes since those carry stagnant water."

The official claimed that larvicides are being sprayed in the drains and other breeding grounds regularly to contain the hazard.