United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on Saturday conducted separate mobile court drives in Dhanmondi, Mirpur Road, and the Hatirpool adjacent kitchen market area to strengthen waste management, mosquito control, and remove illegal encroachments from public spaces. The drives were carried by magistrate Mohammad Aminul Islam in various locations of Wards 17 and 18 under Zone-1 of DSCC. In Ward 18, illegal structures and roadside shops were removed from the footpaths and roadways opposite Science Laboratory, House No. 1, Road No. 2, and along both sides of Mirpur Road in Dhanmondi. The areas were subsequently cleared to restore public access and order. During the operation, three cases were filed for unlawful occupation of footpaths and roads, resulting in fines totaling Tk 3,000. A separate mobile court operation was conducted from approximately in the morning in the Hatirpool kitchen market and surrounding areas under Wards 17 and 18. The drive focused on improving waste management practices, controlling mosquito breeding, and enhancing public awareness. To ensure market discipline and promote civic responsibility, 21 cases were filed under various provisions of the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009, leading to fines amounting to Tk 22,200. In total, the two operations resulted in 24 cases and Tk 25,200 in fines collected. Officials involved in the drive stated that such enforcement activities will continue regularly to maintain urban order, improve waste management, and strengthen mosquito control efforts across the city. The operations were conducted with the participation of relevant DSCC officials, employees, and members of law enforcement agencies.

Administrator of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Abdus Salam on Wednesday said the existing household waste collection system may be abolished and replaced with a new mechanism next year if residents continue to be deprived of the expected level of service. "We have received various complaints regarding the ward-based tender system currently used for household waste collection. In some areas, waste is not being collected on time, while in others there are allegations of excessive charges. Whether the current system will continue next year is being seriously considered," he said. The DSCC administrator made the remarks while addressing a ceremony as chief guest at the Nagar Bhaban auditorium where special Eid grants from the Prime Minister were distributed among city corporation sanitation workers. A total of 4,950 sanitation workers each received Tk 5,000 as a special Eid assistance grant. In his speech, Salam described sanitation work as one of the most difficult and demanding services performed by city corporation employees. "If citizens remain conscious and sanitation workers continue their sincere efforts, it will be possible to transform the face of Dhaka within the next two years," he said, urging both sanitation workers and media professionals to play an active role in raising public awareness about cleanliness.  

A pre-monsoon survey conducted by the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has identified 63 of its 75 wards as having Aedes mosquito densities above the acceptable threshold, while 27 wards have been classified as highly vulnerable to dengue outbreaks. DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam revealed the findings during a presentation of the pre-monsoon Aedes larvae survey and an action plan at Nagar Bhaban. The survey was conducted from May 12 to May 23 by a 36-member team from DSCC and the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) unit of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Data were collected from 2,250 households using the digital KoboToolbox platform. According to the survey, Aedes larvae and pupae were found in 281 households across the city corporation area. Among the affected premises, the highest proportion of larvae was detected in multi-storey buildings, accounting for 35.23 percent of the total, followed by single-family houses (27.76 percent), under-construction buildings (17.44 percent), and semi-pucca houses (14.59 percent). The survey also identified the most common breeding sites. Stagnant water accumulated on floors accounted for 12.26 percent of breeding grounds, followed by buckets (10.34 percent) and plastic drums (8.89 percent). To tackle the growing risk, DSCC will launch a five-day special crash programme from June 7 in the 27 wards identified as the most vulnerable. The initiative will be jointly implemented by the city corporation’s health and waste management departments. A similar programme will be carried out the following week in 36 wards classified as moderately vulnerable. As part of public awareness efforts, DSCC will organise a rally against dengue and chikungunya from Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi on June 6. Similar campaigns will later be held in other parts of the city. Speaking at the event, Abdus Salam stressed that dengue prevention cannot be ensured through government initiatives alone. “Active participation of citizens is essential. Residents must keep their homes and workplaces clean and remove stagnant water every three days to prevent mosquito breeding,” he said. He also called on media professionals to disseminate accurate information to strengthen public awareness and support dengue prevention efforts.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Abdus Salam on Monday announced that the first Saturday of every month will be observed as ‘Cleaning Day’ across DSCC areas to prevent Aedes mosquito-borne diseases including dengue and to ensure a cleaner city environment. The first official ‘Cleaning Day’ will be observed on May 9 across DSCC areas. The decision was announced at a view-exchange meeting held at Nagar Bhaban conference room. As per the meeting decisions, all government offices, residential quarters, educational institutions (schools, colleges, madrashas), areas under RAJUK and REHAB, as well as privately owned premises within DSCC jurisdiction, will conduct cleanliness drives and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds on their own initiatives. Besides, directives have been issued to ensure the highest level of professionalism in mosquito control activities, including maintaining the quality of insecticides, proper application methods, monitoring, and training of field workers. The DSCC Administrator said, “Public awareness and cleanliness are our main tools in preventing dengue and chikungunya. If both public and private institutions along with citizens keep their surroundings clean, it will be possible to eliminate mosquito-borne diseases. No negligence in mosquito control activities by DSCC will be tolerated.” He also urged media representatives to broadcast awareness messages on dengue and chikungunya prevention alongside commercial programmes in the greater public interest. Representatives from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Dhaka Medical College (DMC), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Islamic Foundation, RAJUK, Bangladesh Railway, REHAB, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, and Jagannath University, among others, were present at the meeting. DSCC Chief Executive Officer Md. Zahurul Islam and other senior officials were also present.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on Saturday inaugurated a modernised and redesigned Secondary Transfer Station (STS) for waste management in Kalabagan area as part of its efforts to improve urban waste management and environmental condition in the capital. DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam inaugurated the upgraded STS under the initiative of the corporation’s Waste Management Department. Speaking at the event, the administrator said residents in the area had long suffered from foul odour and traffic congestion due to poor management of the facility. He also said DSCC plans to gradually redesign all of its STSs following the same model if public cooperation continues. Following the inauguration, DSCC launched a large-scale cleanliness and mosquito control drive at Dhanmondi Lake and its surrounding areas. Around 600 workers from the corporation’s Waste Management and Health departments took part in the drive. Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Affairs Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam attended the programme as a special guest. During the campaign, the DSCC administrator warned that the environmental balance of Dhanmondi Lake would be protected at any cost. “Businesses operating around the lake must remain within the boundaries allocated under their lease agreements. Any violation of lease conditions or encroachment beyond the permitted area will result in immediate cancellation of the lease,” he said. Speaking at the event, Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam said DSCC has shown visible improvement in mosquito control and waste management activities despite various limitations. The minister added that the administration’s strict monitoring and proactive measures have significantly accelerated mosquito control and overall civic management activities. A public awareness rally was brought out with the participation of members of the Dhanmondi Society and local residents.

Dhaka’s footpaths have once again fallen back into chaos just days after a coordinated eviction drive, underlining the persistent challenge of freeing public spaces from long-standing encroachments. Sidewalks cleared during a five-day drive by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have already been reoccupied in many key areas, raising fresh questions about the effectiveness of such enforcement efforts. The drives were conducted from April 1 to 5 in eight traffic divisions, targeted illegal shops, street vendors and unauthorised parking on roads and footpaths. Authorities removed structures, fined violators carrying out mobile court drives. Yet, within days, most areas saw hawkers return. According to DMP data, 405 cases were filed, Tk 11.56 lakh were realised in fines, 57 individuals were warned and 96 others were sentenced to jail during the drives. Relief short-lived For a brief period, citizens experienced some relief in areas such as Gulistan, Dholaikhal, Uttara, Shanir Akhra and Kalabagan in Dhanmondi. Within two days of the drive ending, sidewalks in most areas were once again occupied. DMP fines Tk 3.33 lakh, jails nine in eviction drives In Gulistan, vendors have reclaimed footpaths much like before, though some now operate more cautiously. In front of Golap Shah Mazar, many who previously used fixed stalls have shifted to laying goods on sheets, allowing them to move quickly if needed. Similar scenes have returned in Paltan, Motijheel and New Market areas where makeshift shops line the sidewalks. Visiting the stretch from Science Laboratory to Nilkhet UNB found hundreds of vendors occupying both sides of the road, forcing pedestrians onto busy streets and worsening traffic congestion. Cycle of eviction and return The pattern has become familiar: eviction drives briefly clear footpaths, only for vendors to return soon after. Beyond New Market, hawkers have reappeared in Mohammadpur, Shyamoli Ring Road, Moghbazar, Banglamotor, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Gulistan and several other parts of the capital.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on Thursday urged cilizens to actively participate in mosquito control by keeping their surroundings clean and eliminating stagnant water regularly. In a public notice, the city corporation called on citizens to dispose of any accumulated water on their premises daily to prevent mosquito breeding and reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases. Administrative and legal action will be taken under existing laws against anyone violating these instructions, the notice warned. DSCC also reminded business establishments that shopping malls, markets, and shops must close by 7 pm in line with current government directives. Furthermore, the city corporation instructed that the lights on all billboards and LED boards, as well as activities related to fairs, trade fairs, and cultural programmes, must be turned off or concluded by 7:00 pm. The notice called on all individuals and institutions to strictly adhere to these directives and emphasised that maintaining cleanliness in personal premises is vital.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on Saturday announced a strict ‘zero tolerance’ approach to negligence in mosquito control operations, as a 10-day crash programme is set to begin across the city from Sunday. DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam issued the warning during an emergency meeting with officials from the Health Department’s mosquito control wing at the Nagar Bhaban auditorium on Saturday. He said any failure, complacency or corruption in mosquito control would not be tolerated. The meeting was convened in response to a recent rise in mosquito prevalence in DSCC areas. Officials discussed measures to ensure the effectiveness of insecticides, proper application methods and strengthening field-level supervision. Abdus Salam instructed the Health Department to work closely with the Waste Management Department to boost mosquito control efforts. He also stressed the importance of public awareness and indicated that mobile courts could be deployed if Aedes mosquito larvae are detected. “Our position is clear—zero tolerance on negligence, failure or corruption in mosquito control,” he said, adding that he would personally conduct on-site inspections of mosquito control activities. The administrator announced a phased 10-day ‘crash programme’ across DSCC’s 10 zones, involving both city corporation officials and local residents. The meeting also explored training initiatives to enhance the skills of mosquito control workers and trial use of new, more effective insecticides. Md Abdus Salam instructed strict legal action against any government or private establishment found harbouring mosquito breeding grounds that fail to take corrective measures despite repeated warnings. DSCC Chief Executive Officer Md Jahirul Islam, Corporation Secretary Mohammad Nasim Ahmed, Chief Waste Management Officer Air Commodore Md Mahabubur Rahman Talukder, and departmental heads, zonal officials and Health Department officers attended the meeting.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has recorded the highest number of dengue deaths in Bangladesh this year where 89 fatalities were reported from January to September 23, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). With 5 more deaths reported in 24 hours till Wednesday morning the fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh rose to 187 this year. Besides, 28 deaths, the 2nd highest this year, were reported in Barishal City Corporation(BCC) which also witnessed the highest 12613 cases. The 2nd highest 6710 dengue cases were reported at DSCC. Dengue situation has worsened this month as it has claimed highest 65 lives till September 24 while  the death toll was 41 and 39in July and August respectively, according to DGHS.

A writ petition was filed with the High Court (HC) on Wednesday seeking a direction to prevent  BNP leader Ishraque Hossain from taking oath as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). The writ also sought action against the Judge of Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal for giving a fraudulent judgement by declaring Ishraque as mayor. Md. Mamunur Rashid, a resident of Dhaka South City Corporation, filed the writ in the relevant branch of the High Court. The secretary of the local government division, law secretary, chief election commissioner, election commission secretary, joint district judge Md. Nurul Islam and Md. Ishraque Hossain were made defendants in the writ petition. The writ petition will be heard by the High Court bench of Justice Md. Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury next Sunday, said the petitioner's lawyer Kazi Akbar Ali. Zubaida Rahman granted bail in graft case Earlier on March 27 , Judge of Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal Md Nurul Islam cancelled the results of the 2020 DSCC election and announced BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Later on April 27, the EC issued a gazette notification declaring him as mayor. On April 28, two Dhaka residents, including writ petitioner Mamunur Rashid, sent legal notices to the authorities concerned to appeal or review the verdict and decree given by the Election Tribunal declaring Ishraque as mayor. The notice also asked to refrain from publishing gazettes in the name of Ishraque and administering oaths to him. Meanwhile, supporters of Ishraque staged a demonstration on Wednesday, demanding that he be sworn in and handed the responsibilities of mayor of the Dhaka South City Corporation. Mystic singer-turned AL MP Momtaz detained: DB The protest, held outside the Dhaka South City Corporation headquarters, culminated in the announcement of a nonstop sit-in starting at 9am tomorrow to press home their demand. Earlier in the morning, at around 8:30am, thousands of people gathered in front of Nagar Bhaban under the banner of Dhakabashi (Residents of Dhaka) and formed a human chain in support of Ishraque.