Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged the countrymen to spend at least half-an-hour on at least two days every week on cleaning their houses in a bid to prevent the spread of dengue disease.

The prime minister made the call in a video message posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

In the message, Tarique Rahman said, “Today, I would like to discuss an important issue with you. We collectively achieved independence for this country in 1971. Together, we also made the movement against autocracy successful in 1990. Once again, people from all walks of life united to make the mass uprising of 2024 successful. If we have been able to accomplish so much, then why can’t we address the other problems facing our country if we all contribute a little and participate together?”

He said, “The issue I want to discuss with you today is dengue. Almost every time we open a newspaper, we read reports of people of different ages dying from dengue or falling ill with the disease. Those who have lost loved ones understand the pain of such a loss. But if we all make a collective effort and each of us steps forward, even in a small way, we can help many people and spare them the grief of losing their loved ones.”

The prime minister said, “If we consider the number of students studying at schools, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions at different levels, the figure is approximately 2.5 crore. In addition, there are members of various organizations such as the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC), Scouts, Girl Guides, the Red Crescent, and the Red Cross. Their combined membership is approximately 40 lakh.

“For nearly the past month, these members have been making efforts every Saturday to clean up garbage and waste, as much as possible, across districts and upazilas throughout the country.

“We all know, and almost everyone watching this video is aware, that the Aedes mosquito, which transmits dengue, breeds in stagnant water. Whether it is in the corners of our homes or at different spots along roads and streets, mosquitoes breed wherever water accumulates in hidden corners or where waste and rubbish cause water to collect.”

He said, “A dengue vaccine has indeed been developed, but various studies have shown that it is not highly effective. It is not particularly effective in treating someone who has already contracted dengue. The most effective way to prevent dengue is to eliminate its breeding grounds. If we can clean up stagnant water and accumulated waste in different places, we will be far more successful in preventing the disease.”

Tarique Rahman said, “Today, my appeal to you, and the cooperation I seek from you, is this: Let us all make a commitment. If every individual and every family can devote at least two days a week, for 30 minutes to an hour each day, to cleaning our homes, the areas surrounding them, and the places along our daily routes where dengue mosquitoes can breed and multiply, we can prevent these mosquitoes from reproducing.”

He added, “A government succeeds when it works for the country by bringing everyone together. Dear fellow citizens, my government wants to work together with all the people of the country to solve our national problems. Solving the country’s problems means solving the problems of you, me, and all of us.

“Let us all make a collective effort. If we work together, we can certainly save many lives in the days ahead and protect people from the scourge of dengue.”