Helemul Alam

From crowded bus terminals to bustling markets, public toilets are difficult to find in Bangladesh’s major cities, depriving millions of commuters, shoppers and travellers of access to safe sanitation.

With rainfall continuing, dengue cases could rise further through October unless urgent measures are taken to eliminate breeding sites and control adult mosquitoes, experts have warned.

At least 52 dengue patients died in the first 13 days of September, the highest monthly toll recorded so far this year, raising fresh concerns over the worsening dengue situation in the country.

Despite spending around Tk 825 crore on mosquito control over the last 11 years, Dhaka’s two city corporations have failed to prevent recurring outbreaks of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.

Teenagers and young adults aged 16 to 30 accounted for around 42 percent of all dengue cases reported this year, making them the most affected age group.

While frequent load-shedding has become a concern for Dhaka residents, people in several neighbourhoods, including East Senpara, East Kazipara, Ibrahimpur and East Rajabazar, say power outages have become an unexpected opportunity to collect water.

In August, Bangladesh recorded its third-highest number of dengue cases and deaths for the month since the country’s first major outbreak in 2000, as infections continue to rise.

Despite men accounting for more dengue infections, women are making up a disproportionately higher share of deaths from the disease this year, according to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) data.