Helemul Alam

The historic iftar market in capital’s Chawkbazar area remained almost empty on the first day of Ramadan amid shutdown for coronavirus.

Clear and stagnant water at construction sites are the most hospitable breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes and steps should be taken immediately to address the problem, experts said.

To ensure social distancing, the capital’s Dhupkhola kitchen market -- which usually sits on the roadside -- was shifted to Dhupkhola playground on Sunday.

The streets of Dhaka have been deserted by humans, but one thing has remained constant there even during the shutdown. The city’s resident strays are still roaming the streets, some scampering about by themselves, some sprinting in groups.

Sporadic rain and a relatively empty capital will make for an ideal breeding environment for the dengue-causing Aedes mosquitoes.

Five years ago, Dhaka Wasa announced the discovery of a natural underground water reservoir in Savar’s Bhakurta.

On a warm spring evening last week, Mohsin Ali, a resident of Mirpur-12, went to a local store to buy mosquito coils. Almost as if sensing his intentions and determined to deter him, a swarm of mosquitoes formed a cloud over his head, diving in at every chance.

The number of dengue patients admitted to hospitals this year is already around four times higher than that of last year during this time, although the rainy season is still two months away.

As experts warn of a record increase in Culex mosquito population next month, measures taken by the two Dhaka city corporations to check the blood-sucking insects appear inadequate.

Demolition of the much-talked-about BGMEA Bhaban -- constructed illegally over a decade ago -- began in full swing yesterday, after power connection was restored to the building.

As the newly-elected mayors of both Dhaka city corporations will have to wait for more than three months to take over duties, seniormost panel mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will perform duties as mayor of the DNCC in the interim.

A 21-year-old DU student was raped and tortured in a notoriously dark stretch of the Airport Road in Kurmitola on the evening of January 5. The lone suspect, who was arrested a few days later, had allegedly raped and mugged other women near the spot in the past.

Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon yesterday termed Awami League-nominated candidate Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh his brother.

As the capital is abuzz with campaigns for the city corporation polls, candidates are found using loudspeakers during the hours when it is not permitted by electoral rules.

With election to the Dhaka city corporations around a week away, ward councillor candidates are campaigning in full swing. However, most of them do not have any specific vision to develop their wards, if elected.

Good food is personal and far reaching at the same time. It creates a bond, sheds light on values that are important to us, and reveals the perspective and way of life.

Environmentalists yesterday termed the demolition of the much-talked-about BGMEA building a symbol of action against illegal structures that were constructed filling waterbodies or open spaces.

Women candidates for elections to the reserved ward councillor posts of two Dhaka city corporations don’t just want to be “ornamental councillors”; they want to make the city safer for women and have demanded a balance of power between them and their male counterparts so that they can serve people properly.

Speeding up mosquito control activities, proper waste management, repairing roads and solving waterlogging problems -- these are the main issues residents of newly-added wards expect to be solved by their mayor.

A week has passed since the 19-day election campaign for Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) polls officially kicked off on January 10, but activities of BNP candidates and their supporters are hardly noticeable compared to their Awami League counterparts.