Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday urged students and young people to play an active role in preventing dengue by keeping their homes, educational institutions, and surroundings clean, stressing that the fight against the disease cannot rely solely on government efforts.

“Prevention is the best way to fight dengue, and for that, we must keep our surroundings clean. I need your help in this effort,” he stated.

The Prime Minister made the call while addressing members of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) and Scouts during a visit to Rajuk Uttara Model College to observe cleanliness drives aimed at combating dengue, according to his Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

He expressed optimism that the nation could achieve significant progress in curbing dengue and safeguarding the environment if more youths took ownership of maintaining cleanliness in their localities.

Hasan Shiplu noted that the Prime Minister paid surprise visits to various hospitals, educational institutions, and government facilities across the capital to evaluate the dengue situation, healthcare delivery, and sanitation measures.

Earlier in the day, PM Tarique visited the Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital, commonly known as Kuwait-Maitree Hospital, where he interacted with admitted patients and inquired about the quality of care being administered.

He also inspected multiple departments, including the intensive care unit (ICU) and operating theatres.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the facility’s overall administration and hygiene standards, the Prime Minister issued a seven-day ultimatum to the hospital administration to improve cleanliness and healthcare management.

He subsequently proceeded to Rajuk Uttara Model College, interacting with teachers, students, BNCC personnel, and Scouts to inspect the campus sanitation drive and discuss the vital role youth can fulfill in dengue control.

PM Tarique remarked that dengue infections typically escalate during this phase of the year, particularly extending through November, leading to widespread illness and recurring fatalities annually.

Highlighting the sanitation hurdles facing the capital, he pointed out that Dhaka is a sprawling metropolis housing over 2.5 crore residents.

Although municipal conservancy workers perform their duties daily, their operational capacity remains limited, rendering active civic engagement crucial, the Prime Minister noted.

“So, whether you are members of the Scouts, Girl Guides or the Red Crescent, or not, you are all citizens of this country. You are the future of the country. You must also take responsibility for keeping your homes, schools, neighbourhoods and surroundings clean,” he urged.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister emphasized the urgency of fostering social consciousness to deter citizens from dumping waste indiscriminately, encouraging people to actively prompt responsible behavior whenever garbage is improperly discarded.

PM Tarique revealed that although initiatives were implemented to place dustbins at strategic points across the capital, many have been stolen.

Similarly, saplings planted by the Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporations are being uprooted and stolen from diverse sites, he added, calling on citizens to exercise greater vigilance and responsibility to halt such activities.

Advising the student community on environmental protection, Prime Minister Tarique encouraged young people to plant at least one tree on their own birthdays as well as those of their family members each year.

“Try to plant a tree on your birthday, your siblings’ birthdays or your grandparents’ birthdays. It can be at your home, school or village home. As the trees grow, you will grow too,” he said.

Reflecting on escalating urban temperatures and the depletion of green spaces in Dhaka, PM Tarique recalled that the capital previously boasted abundant tree cover and open areas, which have gradually been replaced by multi-storey structures.

He observed that this loss of green canopy has rendered the city noticeably warmer.

“The more trees we have, the more freely we will be able to breathe. I really like the gentle rustling of leaves. If we all plant trees together, we can also reduce the city’s temperature to some extent,” he noted.

Throughout the interaction, PM Tarique reiterated the necessity for youth to proactively engage in dengue prevention, civic cleanliness, and urban afforestation efforts, asserting that public awareness and collective civic action alongside state initiatives are indispensable to constructing a clean and livable city.

When the Prime Minister asked the assembled students if they would commit to keeping their schools, residences, neighborhoods, and adjacent areas clean, he received an enthusiastic affirmation.

Shiplu added that the Prime Minister is also slated to inspect Dhaka Medical College Hospital alongside various other medical institutions and schools under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka North and South city corporations.