Shafiqur slams govt over dengue response

Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday criticised the government for failing to take adequate measures to contain the dengue outbreak, demanding urgent steps to ensure vaccine availability through state channels or private-sector imports.

“Dengue vaccines are available globally, yet the government has taken no initiative to make them accessible in our country,” Shafiqur said while inaugurating a weeklong dengue-prevention awareness campaign organised by Jamaat’s Dhaka North City unit at Madhubagh playground in the capital.

“If the government cannot import the vaccine itself, it should allow the private sector to bring it in. But it cannot refuse to act while preventing others from stepping in,” he said.

The government has blamed the previous administration for deaths caused by measles, which preceded the dengue outbreak, he said, questioning what the current government had done over the past seven months.

“Why are people still dying from measles and dengue? Admit the failure,” he said.

“Though we are in the opposition, we have a responsibility. Jamaat will not remain idle during this disaster. We have stepped forward with our highest capacity to address the calamity that has befallen the country,” the Jamaat ameer said.

He said Jamaat had announced Dengue Prevention Week to raise awareness nationwide. As part of the programme, the party also launched a drive to clean canals and drains across the capital to destroy potential mosquito breeding grounds.

“We have no government allocation, but we took the initiative with our own financial assistance and that of our well-wishers to make the effort successful,” he said.

Shafiqur urged the government to promptly adopt practical measures to eradicate mosquitoes, ensure proper medical treatment for affected people and undertake social initiatives to prevent further deaths.