RANGPUR, Mar 25: Mosquito attacks have surged alarmingly in Rangpur city in recent time, causing unbearable sufferings to the city-dwellers.
The city inhabitants have become helpless as they are quite unable to get rid of the menace of mosquitoes, which has become an inextricable problem in recent days.
Local residents say that mosquito breeding is particularly prevalent in the Shyamasundari Canal, which is flowing through the heart of the city.
It is learnt, mosquitoes start entering homes since the very afternoon. There is no letup in mosquito infestation in offices and other public places either.
City residents claim that the water of Shyamasundari has stagnated for want of renovation work and cleaning of the canal for a long time.
As soon as evening begins, mosquitoes start swarming inside and outside the houses. In many areas, the mosquito infestation cannot be controlled even with the use of sprays and coils.
All the residents of city including students, patients, children and elderly people are suffering a lot owing to the unbearable situation.
It is learnt, dirty drains and scattered refuse and bushes have intensified the trouble. Locals said that the Shyamasundari Canal has not been renovated for a long time, and has already lost its navigability and has become a major cause of mosquito breeding.
Many people living near the Shyamasundari Canal told The Financial Express that the canal has not been cleaned for a long time. As a result, more mosquitoes are being born in the water-body. In addition, since the city's drains, ponds and water bodies are not cleaned properly, mosquitoes are also being bred there.
Due to the nuisance of mosquitoes everywhere day and night, there is a fear of spreading mosquito-borne diseases.
Expressing disappointment over the situation, Afia Haque Fariha, an SSC candidate at Guptapara in Rangpur city, told The Financial Express that mosquitoes have made it difficult for her to study even in the morning as well as afternoon let alone at night. Consequently, she has to use mosquito coils to get rid of this menace, but sometimes coils also do not work, she also said. Moreover, she is having troubles with the smoke emitting from coils. Finding no other options, she is forced to study inside mosquito net even during the daytime, she added.
Md. Nuruzzaman , a resident of the city's Noorpur area, told the FE that the mosquito nuisance is far worse this year than in previous years.
Rangpur City Corporation's waste management officer Mizanur Rahman Mizu said this time mosquito attacks have increased compared to other times.
Therefore, a comprehensive programme has been undertaken to kill mosquitoes.
He said, so far, 10,000 liters of medicine have been purchased. Along with this, 80 new fogger machines have been brought. In addition, 66 hand spray machines have been purchased. Due to the holy month of Ramadan, a large-
scale mosquito killing campaign cannot be started.
However, a complete mosquito killing campaign has already started in some areas. Mosquito killing programmes will be carried out in all 33 wards in phases, he added.
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