PM visits hospitals, educational institutions to inspect dengue response

Urging everyone to work collectively rather than relying solely on government initiatives to prevent dengue, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called upon students and the youth to take responsibility for keeping their homes, campuses, and surrounding environments clean.

The prime minister made the remarks on Saturday while addressing members of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) and Scouts during an inspection of dengue prevention and cleanliness drives at RAJUK Uttara Model College in the capital.

Earlier in the day, the prime minister embarked on unannounced visits to various hospitals, educational institutions, and government facilities in the capital to assess the dengue situation, healthcare services, and sanitation efforts firsthand.

Starting his visits at the Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital, he interacted with admitted patients to enquire about their medical treatment and inspected several wings, including the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and operation theatres.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the overall management and sanitation conditions of the facility, the prime minister gave the hospital authorities a seven-day ultimatum to upgrade cleanliness and improve the hospital environment.

He then visited RAJUK Uttara Model College, where he spoke with teachers, students, BNCC cadets, and Scout members. Alongside reviewing the institution’s cleanliness drives, he discussed the role of students in preventing dengue.

Addressing the students, the prime minister noted that dengue prevalence surges around this time of the year, particularly through November, leading to widespread infections and fatalities. He stressed that the most effective way to combat dengue is prevention, which requires maintaining clean surroundings.

"To fight dengue, the best method is prevention. For that, we must keep our surroundings clean. I seek your support in this mission," he told the students, adding that significant strides in environmental protection and dengue prevention can be made if the country's youth take charge of keeping their immediate localities clean.

Touching on the capital's cleanliness conditions, he stated that Dhaka is a mega-city inhabited by 20 to 25 million people. While city corporation cleaners work regularly, their capacity has limitations; hence, citizens must share the responsibility rather than relying solely on municipal authorities or the administration.

"Whether you are members of the Scouts, Girl Guides, or Red Crescent, you are all citizens and the future of this country. Therefore, the responsibility to keep your homes, schools, neighbourhoods, and surroundings clean also rests on you," he said.

Emphasising the need to build social awareness against littering, he urged people to caution anyone dumping waste outside designated spots, noting that Dhaka can be kept clean through collective effort.

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He noted that although initiatives were taken to install dustbins across the city, many are regrettably stolen. Similarly, saplings planted by Dhaka North and South city corporations have also been stolen in various locations, prompting him to call for greater civic responsibility and vigilance.

Planting a tree on every birthday

To protect the environment, the prime minister advised students to plant at least one sapling each year on their own birthdays or those of family members.

"Try to plant a tree on your birthday, your siblings' birthdays, or your grandparents' birthdays—whether at home, at school, or in your village home. As those trees grow, you will grow as well," he said.

Reflecting on the capital's rising temperatures and diminishing green spaces, he recalled that Dhaka once had abundant greenery and open grounds, which have now been largely replaced by multi-storey buildings, driving up urban heat.

"The more trees grow, the easier it will be for us to breathe freely. I love the rustling sound of leaves. If we all plant trees together, we can bring down the city's temperature," he said.

Stressing the need for active youth participation across dengue prevention, cleanliness, and urban greening, he reiterated that civic awareness alongside concerted public action can build a clean and livable metropolis.

When the prime minister asked the students whether he could count on their cooperation in maintaining cleanliness across their campuses and neighbourhoods, the students responded enthusiastically with a collective affirmative.