Bid to block mosquito repellent import rued

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam hit out at the government’s plant protection wing for obstructing the purchase of mosquito-killing insecticides, reports bdnews24.com.

Addressing a roundtable on mosquito control and dengue prevention in the capital's Bashundhara Residential Area on Saturday, the mayor said, "Countries around the world are able to buy and use insecticides. But it's not possible for us to do so because of a vested interest group."

"They have held the whole country hostage. The Plant Quarantine Wing misconstrued a government  notice and blocked the import of insecticides."

The import of pesticides into the country is subject to a clearance from the agriculture department's plant protection wing, which is tasked with testing the chemical compounds for any adverse effects on botany.

In the face of heavy criticism over the authorities' failure to contain the dengue-carrying Aedes mosquitoes, Mayor Atiqul, however, claimed the import of insecticides was hampered by the 'obstacles' created by the plant protection wing and this in turn exacerbated the dengue outbreak.

But dengue specialist Dr ABM Abdullah called for a concerted effort instead pointing the blame at anyone.

"There's no use in playing the blame-game over this.

The whole world is experiencing a spread of such diseases due to climate change. No-one can control nature," he said.