AL to launch 3-day cleanliness drive for dengue awareness

Dhaka, July 29 – The ruling Awami League is going to launch a three-day long cleanliness drive across the country from July 31, in a bid to create awareness among the people about the outbreak of mosquito-borne disease dengue that took a serious turn this year.With the theme “Keep surroundings clean, build dirt-free society and dengue-free Bangladesh” the AL leaders and workers will conduct the campaign from July 31 at all districts, Upazilas and unions from 11 am to 12 noon.
“We will conduct the drive till union level across the country to build up awareness among the people about dengue diseases. The drive will be conducted simultaneously across the country from 11am-12pm when we will also distribute leaflets among the mass people,” said AL general secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday.
Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, was addressing a press conference after holding a meeting with the party’s departmental secretaries, at the party president Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi political office in the city.
He said they discussed on the country’s prevailing crises including dengue and flood. AL president and Prime minister Sheikh Hasina who has now been currently staying in London for her eye treatment, also joined the meeting through video call and gave necessary instructions to her party leaders to fight against dengue and flood that gripped the country, said Quader.
“We took the decision to launch three-day long cleansing drive across the country as per the instruction of our party president. She talked to us for about 25 minutes,” he said.
Replying to a question, the AL spokesperson said they are not sitting idle. The Sheikh Hasina government has been working sincerely to tackle the prevailing dengue and flood situation.
“We are very serious about the prevailing crises the countrymen are facing now. We have taken the dengue and flood as a challenge. And I hope we will be able to overcome the crises soon,” he said.
Replying to another question over the role of the two city corporations’ mayors in controlling dengue outbreak, Quader said they are now working to control dengue outbreak. “Yes they sometimes made indiscriminate statements about dengue but now they have given attention to control dengue,” he said.
“There is no lack of coordination among us. We are working together under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina in a bid to overcome the prevailing crises,” he replied.
However, along with the AL leaders and workers, all members of the AL’s associate and like-minded organizations will take part in the awareness programme against dengue outbreak. – Staff Reporter