As part of its response to High Court’s strong criticism, the authorities of both Dhaka city corporations are flying in a sample of insecticide to test its potency against the Aedes mosquitoes.

The Aedes mosquitoes are instrumental in transmitting the dengue virus which is in a state of outbreak in Bangladesh currently.

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), on Thursday, informed the High Court bench of Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice Md Shohrowardi that the sample would be arriving that very day.

They also said the sample would undergo primary test at a laboratory in Dhaka for its effectiveness in killing mosquitoes.

The same bench asked the Local Government Division secretary to appear at 2pm and explain the entire situation and the role of local government authorities.

On July 25, the same bench had asked chief health officers of both the city corporations to stop the spread of Aedes mosquitoes and dengue virus within July 30 by increasing the insecticide dose. It also asked them to submit a report within the same deadline whether the spread of mosquitoes had been contained.

As there was no effective result, the High Court bench on July 30 asked both city authorities to inform the court by 2pm Thursday when the insecticide samples would be arriving.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Bangladesh has had 17,183 dengue cases in 2019 as of July 31.

The recent outbreak has claimed several lives despite reasonably good medical care which has heightened tensions among the citizens and caught the attention of the High Court.

Deshsangbad/Alo