Helemul Alam

Heavy rain flooded streets and homes across the capital yesterday morning and exposed Dhaka’s poor drainage system yet again.

The National Housing Authority has started renovating the 2.25-acre playground near Aarong in Lalmatia, evicting encroachers from the site.

So far, the country has already recorded 44 deaths and 3,651 hospitalisations from dengue this year. With ongoing intermittent rains, experts fear the situation could worsen if immediate actions are not taken.

Dhaka is not for beginners. This is a popular saying among Dhakaites, particularly the younger ones, who often make memes and write satires on this topic.

Despite extending the deadline four times in last five years, Dhaka South City Corporation has fixed yet another new deadline to complete the renovation work of the capital’s Osmani Udyan.

While Dhaka has worn a deserted look, giving some respite to the dwellers from traffic jams and usual hassles, the six-day holiday for Eid-ul-Azha has increased the risk of spreading dengue in the city.

Though the price of sacrificial animals has dropped slightly due to a lack of customers, it remains high compared to the same time last year.

With only a day left before Eid-ul-Azha, the number of buyers was still low, despite a large supply of bulls

Designated spots lie idle, city corporations blame indifference of residents

Despite Eid-ul-Azha being just two days away, the cattle markets of Dhaka city have not yet gained momentum due to a lack of customers. Till yesterday evening, a good number of sacrificial animals, especially bulls, were present at all 16 cattle markets in Dhaka, but customer turnout was notably low until 5:00pm.

Till this evening, a number of sacrificial animals, especially bulls, were present at all 16 cattle markets in Dhaka, but customer turnout was notably low until 5:00pm

A significant number of middle and large-sized bulls have been brought to various cattle markets in Dhaka, but the supply of small bulls remains low despite high demand.

On the footpath next to the General Post Office in the capital, Sohel Howlader sells children’s clothes from a small table.

Despite a large number of sacrificial animals being on sale at all 16 cattle markets in Dhaka, the prices are still quite high.

Despite the government’s announcement of a surplus of sacrificial animals this year, their prices remain high so far, compared to the same time last year.

After last year witnessed the highest number of dengue fatalities, it seemed the situation couldn’t get any worse. However, dengue fatalities this year till May are already 21 more than the same period last year, indicating the worst is yet to come.

Despite a record-breaking outbreak last year, with more than 1,705 deaths, the authorities concerned are yet to establish a comprehensive surveillance system to track and control the Aedes mosquitoes, the carrier of the deadly dengue virus.

The number of dengue patients will be higher this year than last year and most of the cases will be from outside Dhaka, said experts.

While there are sidewalks on both sides of the road from Farmgate’s Ananda Cinema Hall to Panthapath intersection, they are hardly functional.

The rain will create more breeding places for the Aedes mosquitoes that will eventually spread the deadly dengue virus, experts warn, urging the authorities to act now.