Mosquitoes take over Dhaka airport

As evening takes over the city, flocks of mosquitoes reign over Dhaka airport area, making passengers suffer miserably.

During a recent visit to the airport, this correspondent saw people sitting on benches with mosquito coils in front of their feet.

Passengers and their attendants said the mosquito menace has turned intolerable at the country's largest international airport.

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) authorities said they have conducted programmes, which include applying new technology to prevent the mosquito influx in the area.

Group Captain Kamrul Islam, executive director of HSIA said, apart from applying natural technologies, they are also using chemicals to repel mosquitoes.

"The airport authorities released guppy fish a few months ago in different canals and ponds situated in the airport area. We are also using mosquito traps and have planted different types of mosquito-repelling trees like garland, lemongrass and holy basil," he said.

This time, the authorities have taken the initiative to install  mosquito traps that use French technology at the airport.

A survey report of CAAB in April found that the airport vicinity ran a high risk of being breeding grounds for Aedes and Culex mosquitoes. The survey found mosquito larvae in two canals, some ponds, ditches, drains, containers and lakes near the airport.

Experts in the survey recommended a clean-up of mosquito breeding habitats, releasing guppy fish, and using chemical or bio-pesticides.

Passengers said it is alarming how badly domestic and foreign passengers are affected by mosquitoes in the area.

"The mosquitoes are biting the waiting passengers all the time, and no arrangement is available to get respite," said Ali Azam, who was going to Saudi Arabia on a Biman flight on Thursday.

"As both city corporations have failed to clean the waterbodies in time, many areas, including the airport area, have been riddled with severe mosquito problems since the arrival of winter," he said.

Another passenger, Md Noman, said, "The problem is less severe during daytime. But  passengers become restless due to mosquito bites in the evening and at night."

"Flocks of mosquitoes gather as the evening descends. Mosquito coils are not enough to tackle them," said Mosammat Adiba, another passenger.

"In the terminal area, the situation is even worse. If you stay still for a moment, a swarm of mosquitoes will come and bite you," she added.

Kamrul Islam said they are cleaning the area regularly with all necessary pesticides and equipment provided by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).

"We clean bushes and drains and destroy mosquito larvae. The insecticide is applied, larvicide in the morning, and fogging machine is used in the afternoon," he said.

Airport sources said the mosquito-trapping machine made by French company QISTA has been used experimentally in Uttara by DNCC.

This machine is capable of trapping the surrounding mosquitoes by attracting them. These traps artificially attract mosquitoes using the smell of human sweat and carbon dioxide.