The High Court has directed the government and Dhaka’s two city corporations to inform it, by 2pm on Wednesday (Jul 31), to when effective pesticides against mosquitoes will be brought into Bangladesh.
The bench of Justice Tariq-ul-Hakim and Justice Md Shohrowardi passed the order on Tuesday (Jul 30) while hearing a suo moto rule.
The court gave the directives when DSCC Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Md Sharif Ahmed and DNCC Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Md Mominur Rahman Mamun submitted a report on the issue before the court through their counsel.
The court also asked the authorities of the two city corporations why the existing medicine has not been effective in controlling mosquito menace.
DCC lawyer Toufiq Inam told the court that the authorities have advertised for importing more effective medicine for mosquito control from China.
Hopefully, the new medicine will arrive in Bangladesh within two weeks, the lawyer said.
Earlier on Jul 17, the High Court came down heavily on DCC for failure to control mosquito menace in the capital even after it (the HC) passed orders for taking necessary steps to this effect.
The HC directed the Dhaka North and South city corporations to take appropriate action against the people involved in corruption over purchase and import of ineffective medicines for mosquito control in Dhaka after conducting an enquiry against them.
It also ordered the DNCC and DSCC to import effective medicine with assistance from the government on an emergency basis and to take necessary measures to prevent the mosquito menace.
The HC also directed the DNCC and DSCC to submit separate reports to this court after complying with the directives by Aug 20, when it will also pass further order on this issue.