In a bid to tackle the menace of dengue and mitigate environmental threats, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has revealed intentions to procure discarded items such as polythene, cans, and coconut shells scattered across the city.
Mayor Atiqul Islam announced this initiative during the 26th Corporation meeting of the Second Parishad held at Gulshan-2 Nagar Bhavan on Thursday. Emphasizing the urgency of the situation, Mayor Islam underscored the importance of collecting abandoned materials, which serve as breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.
He stated, "To combat dengue effectively, we are initiating the collection of discarded polythene, chip packets, ice cream cups, tin shells, unused tires, commodes, and other items known to harbor Aedes mosquitoes. Individuals can deposit these items at their respective ward councilor's office in exchange
for cash."
Mayor Islam further explained the operational mechanism, highlighting that waste purchased from each ward would be regularly collected by sanitation workers and transported to the nearest Secondary Transfer Station (STS). This community-driven initiative aims to engage citizens in keeping their surroundings clean and free from potential dengue breeding sites.
During the meeting, councilors reached a consensus on pricing for the abandoned items and their subsequent collection. The proposed prices include Tk 100 for 100 homogeneous chip packets, Tk 100 for 100 ice cream cups or disposable glasses, Tk 50 per kilogram of unused polythene, Tk 2 per tin shell, Tk 3 each for clay, plastic, melamine, ceramic, and Tk 50 for each abandoned tire.
Mayor Atiqul Islam outlined plans for implementation, targeting post-Eid commencement. He stressed the need for a comprehensive awareness campaign led by councilors to educate the public about dengue prevention measures. The campaign will involve local leaders, politicians, religious figures, educators, and students, culminating in awareness rallies across the city.
The Corporation meeting was attended by DNCC Secretary Mohammad Masud Alam Siddique, Chief Executive Officer Mir Khairul Alam, Chief Engineer Brigadier General Md. Moin Uddin, Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Imrul Kayes Chowdhury, Chief Waste Management Officer Captain Mohammad Fida Hasan, departmental heads, councilors, and other senior officials.