Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Shafiqul Islam Khan on Friday said many government residential quarters in the capital have turned into dengue hotspots due to the accumulation of discarded household items and unused materials that serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

"Many government quarters are now dengue hotspots. Various abandoned items, furniture and unused materials remain scattered there, creating ideal conditions for mosquito breeding. Many people are not even aware of these hidden sources of dengue," he told reporters.

"We have already started working to eliminate these breeding grounds as part of our dengue prevention efforts," he added.

The DNCC administrator made the remarks while concluding the day-long “Let's Save the Canal: Gulshan Lake Cleanup Campaign” beside the Gulshan-2 Lake Bridge on Friday.

Welcoming the initiative, Shafiqul said the city's water bodies are its lifeline and stressed the importance of protecting them from pollution.

"DNCC appreciates this youth-led initiative to keep Gulshan Lake clean and pollution-free. We remain committed to supporting such programmes to build a liveable, healthy and dengue-free Dhaka," he said.

The campaign was jointly organised by Footsteps Bangladesh, DNCC, Gulshan Society and the National Volunteer Forum, with support from Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC Bangladesh.

Around 500 volunteers took part in the drive aimed at removing waste from the lake and raising public awareness about protecting urban water bodies.

Speaking to the Daily Sun, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC Bangladesh Chief Executive Officer Nazith Meewanage said the bank was proud to support the initiative as part of its corporate social responsibility, adding that collective efforts are essential for building a sustainable future.

Gulshan Society President Barrister Omar Sadat said maintaining the cleanliness of Gulshan Lake is crucial for ensuring a healthy, odor-free environment for residents and pledged the society's continued support for protecting the area's water bodies.

Footsteps Bangladesh Co-founder and President Shah Rafayet Chowdhury praised the participation of volunteers, saying the enthusiastic involvement of around 500 young people demonstrated the commitment of Bangladesh's youth to environmental protection.

He said the "Let's Save the Canal" campaign is not merely a one-day programme but part of a broader movement to build environmental awareness across the country.