Mosquito menace grows acute at RU

Because of a delay in spraying pesticides, the mosquito menace has grown acute in different parts of Rajshahi city and Rajshahi University in the last one month and a half.

At least five resident students contacted malaria in early March, according to the university medical centre.

The problem starts in late February and persists for the next three or four months if there have been no containing measures by Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), say officials.

Amzad Hossain, a resident student of Bangabandhu hall, said it was nearly impossible to stay in the room without using the mosquito net or burning repellant coils.

The insects swarm into the room in the evening, from nearby drains and ponds, added Asaduzzaman Newton of Suhrawardy hall.

However, some students reported that sometimes the repellants did not work and an excessive use of these caused burning in the eyes and breathing complications.

As an alternative, employees of the central library make smoke burning wood and straws to save themselves from bites, said one staff Sukesh Karmakar.

Every year RCC's mosquito control department, which employs 500 people, sprays larvicides across the city and on the university campus towards the end of February.

On condition of anonymity, an official told The Daily Star that RCC had sanctioned Tk 1.5 crore this year for mosquito control.

Muhammad Sanaullah, inspector of the department, said there had been a delay in having the funding approved because Mayor Mossaddek Hossain Bulbul was rarely found in recent times.

He, however, could not specify when the drive may start, saying the pesticides would be bought from India this month and tested by experts to ensure they were not harmful. It will take some time, he added.