CHATTOGRAM, July 14, 2026 (BSS)- City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain stated that the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) is actively working to determine the underlying causes of waterlogging in various parts of the city, particularly following the recent record rainfall that has exacerbated the issue.  To address this, he has instructed a thorough on-site inspection of the areas prone to waterlogging, to evaluate the situation and implement necessary actions.  During this process, the Mayor, accompanied by officials from the Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defense, conducted an inspection of the Fire Service and Civil Defense office located in Agrabad Chowmuhani, as well as the adjacent areas, to investigate the reasons behind the waterlogging caused by the recent heavy rainfall.    At this juncture, the Mayor directed the Chief Conservancy Officer of the CCC Captain Ikhtiar Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury and Chief Engineer Anisur Rahman to identify the required measures to permanently alleviate the waterlogging in this region and to initiate work promptly.  The Mayor emphasized that a lasting solution to the waterlogging issue cannot be achieved without the cooperation of the community.  He therefore urged all citizens to refrain from disposing of any waste in drains, ditches, and canals.  Dr. Shahadat mentioned that efforts are underway to expedite the cleaning of key watercourses, including Nasir Khal Chhatra and Lalmia Khal Chhatra, to mitigate the waterlogging in the Dewanhat Agrabad area.  He expressed optimism that ensuring the normal flow of these canals and Chhatras would significantly reduce waterlogging during the monsoon season.  Fire Service and Civil Defense officials, former councilor Niaz Mohammad Khan, women leader Fatema Badsha, relevant departmental officials from the CCC and local political figures among others were present on the occasion.

CHATTOGRAM, July 14, 2026 (BSS)-Chattogram Divisional Health Director Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi has called for enhanced surveillance to curb the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, particularly dengue. He said dengue has emerged as a major public health concern and that the Health Department is fully prepared to ensure the safety of Chattogram residents and keep the city dengue-free. However, he said achieving this goal would require greater public awareness and active community participation alongside government efforts. He made the call while addressing a coordination meeting on 'Strengthening the Dengue Surveillance System', organised in collaboration with M‚decins Sans FrontiŠres (MSF) at the office of the Divisional Health Director on Tuesday. He noted that both the government and the NGO MSF are collaborating to address the dengue issue. An agreement has already been established among the Chattogram City Corporation, Health Department, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU), and MSF to combat vector-borne diseases. He reported that Aedes mosquito larvae are present in one out of every four homes within the Chattogram City Corporation area. In June, the dengue patient count in the Chattogram division reached 405, and by the second week of July this year, this figure had risen to 485. He expressed concerns that the dengue outbreak may escalate further during the monsoon season. During the meeting, Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr Jahangir Alam stated that, in addition to government initiatives, collaborative efforts involving MSF and other NGOs are essential to effectively combat dengue. The meeting, which was facilitated by MSF Medical Team Leader Dr. Francisco Raul D. Salvador and Medical Liaison Officer Dr. Fatema Ferdousi, included the participation of Chattogram Medical College Hospital Director Brigadier General Mohammad Taslim Uddin, BITID Director Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed, Deputy Director of the Divisional Health Director's Office Dr. Kamrul Azad, Acting Director of Chattogram General Hospital Dr. Md. Ekram Hossain, along with various officials from the Health Department, medical professionals, and representatives development partner organizations were present.