Published: 11:47 PM, 10 September 2026
City Corporations Cannot Avoid Liability for Dengue Outbreak
Bangladesh's recurring dengue crisis has become more than a public health emergency; it is also a test of the accountability of city authorities. Every year, thousands of people become infected, hospitals struggle to accommodate patients, and families face medical expenses and emotional distress. While citizens have a responsibility to keep their homes and surroundings clean, city corporations cannot avoid their share of responsibility for creating and maintaining a healthy urban environment. The spread of dengue is closely linked to the Aedes mosquito, which breeds in stagnant water. Construction sites, clogged drains, discarded containers, uncovered water tanks, abandoned properties, and waterlogged streets can all provide breeding grounds. Many of these conditions exist beyond the control of individual households and require coordinated action by municipal authorities. City corporations have important responsibilities in waste management, drainage, mosquito control, environmental sanitation, and public awareness. When drains remain blocked, garbage accumulates, and stagnant water persists for days, the risk of mosquito breeding increases. If authorities fail to identify and eliminate breeding grounds effectively, questions about institutional accountability are inevitable. Bangladesh's experience with dengue shows that seasonal spraying alone is not an adequate solution. Authorities often intensify mosquito-control campaigns after infections rise sharply. By then, however, the mosquito population may already have expanded significantly.
A more effective strategy requires year-round surveillance, regular inspections, removal of breeding sites, proper waste disposal, and rapid action in areas where dengue cases are reported. The issue is particularly serious in Dhaka, where dense population, rapid construction, inadequate drainage, and heavy monsoon rains create favorable conditions for mosquito breeding. Both major city corporations must therefore strengthen coordination among their health, sanitation, engineering, and waste-management departments. Their activities should be measurable, transparent, and subject to public scrutiny. Accountability does not mean placing the entire blame for dengue on municipal authorities. Residents, property owners, construction companies, hospitals, schools, and businesses all have responsibilities. People must prevent standing water around their homes, dispose of waste properly, and seek medical attention when symptoms appear.
Construction sites and private properties should also be inspected and penalized when they repeatedly create mosquito-breeding conditions. However, public participation cannot replace government responsibility. Citizens pay taxes and service charges with the expectation that essential municipal services will be provided efficiently. When preventable environmental conditions contribute to a public health crisis, authorities should be prepared to explain what measures they took, where they failed, and how they intend to improve.
