A national taskforce formed to prevent dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases carried out a special operation in Banani, Dhaka, on Friday to identify and destroy Aedes mosquito larvae. The drive, led by State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shah Alam, covered Banani’s 18, 21, and 24 number roads. During the operation, a construction site on Road 24 was fined Tk 50,000 under Section 269 of the Penal Code after larvae were found despite prior warnings.

Mir Shah Alam said the government’s goal was not to punish but to protect lives and build a dengue-free city, urging citizens to keep their surroundings clean and remove stagnant water every three days. He also announced that residents could collect larvicide tablets free of cost from Dhaka North City Corporation offices and called on media and real estate developers to strengthen awareness and cleanliness efforts.

Dhaka North City Corporation’s Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Imrul Kayes Chowdhury reported that about 50 percent of inspected houses in Banani’s government quarters and nearby areas contained Aedes larvae, underscoring the need for greater public awareness during the ongoing three-month anti-dengue campaign.