Dengue crisis may worsen in coming months: State Minister Tuku

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku has said  the ongoing dengue situation in Dhaka and other districts could take a more alarming turn over the coming months, urging citizens to remain vigilant from now.

"The risk of dengue may increase further in the coming months, so everyone needs to become aware from now," Tuku said while addressing a views exchange meeting with lawmakers and administration on the overall law and order situation and development activities in Dhaka district, held at the Dhaka Deputy Commissioner's conference room.

The state minister said public representatives, the administration and local residents must work together to combat dengue through cleanliness drives, destruction of mosquito breeding grounds and heightened public awareness.

On law and order in the capital, Tuku said maintaining law and order is not the administration's responsibility alone.

A safe and stable society, he said, can only be built through the coordinated efforts of political leadership, the administration, law enforcement agencies and the general public.

Noting that the government is working to keep the country's law and order situation normal while advancing development activities, he called for effective coordination among the district administration, police administration and public representatives, adding that obstacles to development work must be identified and addressed alongside maintaining law and order.

He stressed the need for special surveillance to prevent various criminal activities in the capital and its surrounding areas, particularly in crime-prone zones, calling for increased law enforcement activity and greater political and social awareness in those areas.

Describing drugs as a major threat to society that is drawing in people from all walks of life, Tuku said the administration, public representatives and social organisations must play a more active role in curbing the spread of narcotics.

Addressing government officials, the state minister said that as state functionaries, they must carry out their duties giving top priority to public welfare and state interests, stressing that all administrative activities should be conducted in the interest of the state and the people, not any individual or group.

The meeting was chaired by Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanom. State Minister for the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain attended as special guest.

Also present were Chief Whip of the Opposition Nahid Islam, Dhaka-12 MP Saiful Alam Khan Milon, reserved women's seat MP Ferdousi Ahmed, Superintendent of Police Shamima Parveen, representatives of various law enforcement agencies, local government officials, public representatives and members of the district law and order committee.