The government has allocated Tk 51.5 crore to help the city corporations and municipalities fight mosquitoes.

LGRD and cooperatives minister Md Tazul Islam came up with the information at a views exchanging meeting with Bangladesh Climate Change Journalist Forum at the Secretariat.

Of the amount, the two Dhaka city corporations were given Tk 7.5 crore each. Tk 1 crore each was allocated for Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Chattogram city corporations.

The other city corporations received Tk 50 lakh each while Tk 30 crore was allocated for all the municipalities.

Minister Islam said they are conducting mosquito extermination activities using the experience of Kolkata. ‘The menace will be under control if everyone keeps premises of their residences and offices clean.’

Government data showed 29,912 dengue patients were admitted to hospitals since January 1. Twenty-three of them died.

Islam said, ‘We were not aware of the breeding grounds of aedes mosquitoes. Kolkata has achieved much by raising public awareness. They say they’ve got rid of this problem as 90 per cent of the people were aware of dengue.’

BCJF general secretary Motahar Hossain, among others, spoke at the meeting chaired by BCJF president Kausar Rahman.