Mosquito menace worsens in Khulna

Khulna city dwellers are grappling with a mosquito menace, enduring sleepless nights and disrupted daily routines as the mosquito population has surged recently.

The breeding season typically begins from mid-February to late March, and residents have alleged that the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) authorities neglected mosquito control measures ahead of this period.

Residents of Bastuhara, Tutpara, Banda Bazar, Daulatpur, Khalishpur, Shibbari, Gallamari, Bosupara, and Mujgunni, especially those living near ponds, bushes, waterbodies, and drains, have been facing swarms of mosquitoes infesting their homes from sunset until early morning.

Officials from KCC's conservancy department said 90 workers have been deployed to spray anti-mosquito oil around the clock, while over 400 cleaners are engaged in cleaning drains and bushes, which are common mosquito breeding grounds.

KCC is also implementing a Tk 823 crore project titled "Drainage System Development (Phase I)", which is expected to mitigate the mosquito menace in the future.

"The drains near our house have turned into mosquito breeding grounds. Swarms of mosquitoes enter our home as soon as the sun sets every day. It becomes extremely difficult to concentrate on studies amid this nuisance," said Farzana Akter, a student at Khulna Government Girls' High School and a resident of the Pujakhola area under Ward-16.

Shafiqul Islam, a resident of the Sonadanga area, said, "My 12-year-old son was diagnosed with dengue last week and is still undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital."

Advocate Babul Hawlader, member secretary of Nagorik Samaj, a citizens' platform, said inadequate fogging operations across the city, irregular larvicide spraying, and unclean drainage systems have allowed mosquitoes to breed and surge in population, worsening the situation daily.

He urged the KCC authorities to take effective measures promptly.

Last year, Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) alone admitted 707 dengue patients, with five fatalities.

The total number of dengue and chikungunya patients in 2024 reached 1,333, resulting in 17 deaths. As of February 28 this year, 14 patients have been diagnosed with dengue, and two have died.

"With warmer days here, we have been receiving a steady influx of patients suffering from mosquito-borne diseases. If authorities fail to implement effective measures, the situation could spiral out of control," said Mizanur Rahman, assistant director of KMCH.

Md Abdul Aziz, chief waste management officer of KCC, said efforts are underway to control mosquito breeding. "We have intensified fogging operations. We are also spraying insecticides and black oil (80 percent diesel and 20 percent furnace oil) in drains and stagnant water sources to prevent mosquito breeding," he said.