Mayor recovers canal during mosquito eradication campaign

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md Atiqul Islam recovered a canal while visiting a Culex mosquito eradication campaign in Agargaon area in the city.

The zone-based integrated mosquito eradication programme, which the DNCC started last Monday to control the Culex mosquito, continued for a third day on Wednesday.

On the way to Agargaon, some shops that were illegally constructed on both sides of Kalyanpur "cha" canal, and even on the canal, were immediately closed down as per the mayor's instruction.

Noticing that the 40-foot canal near the social welfare intersection at 60-foot road in Agargaon exists as only two feet, the mayor instructed for all the illegal installations to be demolished.

As per his directives, all illegal installations, including a boundary wall and three tin-shed houses, installed on occupied canals and walkways were immediately removed.

The campaign was done in Karwan Bazar area (Zone-5 of Dhaka South).  The mayor also visited the mosquito eradication programme in: Mohammadpur Ring Road, Shia Masjid area, Ramachandrapur Canal, and Ward-28.

Atiqul Islam said, "One Belayet has occupied the land by filling the canal with soil. Water-logging is created here as water cannot go through the canal. We are currently digging out the canal with an excavator.''

"The city corporation will no longer allow anyone to occupy the canal as it causes people to suffer," the mayor said.

"With the cooperation of people and future generations, we will reclaim the occupied canals from the grabbers," he added.

The canals are fertile breeding places for mosquitoes. Political leaders and activists are also cooperating with us in this work, mayor Atiqul said.

People from all walks of life in the area, political leaders and activists as well as homeowners' associations have all applauded the initiative.