Penal Code to be used if combing operation faces obstacle: Atiqul

The Penal Code will be used to hand down punishment to any house owner who obstructs the “combing operation” to kill Aedes mosquitoes, said Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam yesterday.

“From now on, if city corporation officials face any obstacle during the drive by house owners, or if they refuse to cooperate, we will use Penal Code 1860,” said the mayor at a meeting organised by DNCC, to evaluate the recent mosquito-killing and cleanliness drives, at Spectra Convention Centre in Gulshan-1.

Ward councillors of DNCC attended the meeting.

Presiding over the programme, Atiqul said, “Our officials faced obstructions during recent drives. We had to wait 45 minutes to get inside a building.”

Some homeowners even did not let them use lifts, saying their lift was out of order, he said, sharing experience of a recent drive.  

Emphasising responsibilities of the citizens and ward councillors, the mayor said the drive should continue round the year to keep mosquitoes in check.

A magistrate of DNCC said clauses 187, 269 and 270 of the Penal Code can be used to hand out jail sentences and fines for not cooperating with a public servant, or for negligent or malignant “act likely to cause infection of disease”.

Speaking as a chief guest, Local Government and Rural Development Minister Md Tazul Islam said, “We will cooperate to fight against Aedes mosquitoes. We request councillors to play an active role.”

He also said Aedes mosquitoes have become a menace across Asia now, and the government is trying its best to control it.

DNCC Secretary Rabindra Sri Barua was also present at the programme.