PM Calls for Public Cooperation to Prevent Dengue and Build a Cleaner Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday called for public cooperation to keep homes and their surroundings clean to prevent dengue, saying collective efforts over the next three months could significantly curb the spread of the disease.

“Let us keep ourselves healthy, our families healthy, our society healthy and try to keep our country healthy,” he said while inaugurating the three-month nationwide ‘Dengue Prevention and Cleanliness Campaign-2026’ at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

The Prime Minister urged citizens to devote at least one hour every week to cleaning their homes, schools, colleges, workplaces and surrounding areas as part of efforts to prevent dengue.

“This work is not very difficult. Today you may have to make a little effort, but if every week you give one hour to cleaning the place where you live, work or study, we will certainly be able to succeed quickly,” he said.

Tarique said preventing mosquito breeding was the safest and easiest way to combat dengue, noting that discarded plastic, paper and other waste can trap stagnant water and create breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes.

“Let us all work together to solve this problem. Perhaps we will not be able to do it 100 percent, but at least we can do 80 percent,” he said, referring to the three-month campaign.

He also urged greater public awareness against indiscriminate dumping of waste on roads and other public places.

“We see many people throwing rubbish and waste here and there carelessly. Let us all try to make them aware,” the Prime Minister said, calling on citizens to discourage littering and urge others not to dispose of waste irresponsibly.

Tarique warned that even a small act of littering could eventually create serious health risks, as accumulated waste and stagnant water can contribute to the spread of dengue and other diseases.

He urged people not to assume that such risks would not affect them personally, saying that even if one person remains safe, a family member or loved one could fall ill because diseases can spread through unhygienic surroundings.

The Prime Minister called for the active participation of millions of young people, students, Scouts, BNCC members, cleaning workers and volunteers in the campaign.

“Work, work, work—and cleanliness, cleanliness, cleanliness. This must be our main goal for the coming days,” he said, calling for collective efforts to build “a clean family and a clean Bangladesh.”

Tarique said millions of young people across Bangladesh could bring about significant change if they worked together, urging them to take responsibility for rebuilding the country.

He said Bangladesh has around 23 lakh Scouts and 22,000 BNCC members, while the number of students in high schools, madrasas, colleges and universities stands at around 1.5 crore. Including primary school and madrasa students, the figure rises to around 2.5 crore, he added.

“If so many people want to rebuild the country, can anyone stop us? No, they cannot,” the Prime Minister said.

Tarique said the youth had already demonstrated their ability to bring about change, referring to the mass upsurge of August 5, 2024.

“Today, the youth have started that change. So, let us now come together to rebuild the state and the country,” he said.

The campaign was jointly organised by the Ministry of Local Government and the Dhaka North and South city corporations.

Cleaning workers from the city corporations, BNCC members, Scouts, Girl Guides, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society representatives, students from various educational institutions and volunteers attended the inaugural programme. District administrations across the country also joined the event online.

Local Government Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Husain, Information and Broadcasting Minister Andaleeve Rahman, State Minister for Health MA Muhit, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, Education Secretary Abdul Khaleque and Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, among others, addressed the programme.