Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has urged Dhaka's bifurcated city corporations not to conduct programmes for 'public display' in the fight to contain the ongoing outbreak of the mosquito-borne dengue virus.

Speaking at a cleaning drive in the Mirpur's Mazar Road on Wednesday, the minister said, "I would like to request against spraying superficial insecticide."

"People want the use of a remedy that will actually be effective against mosquitoes. We don't want to undertake initiatives just for show and dupe or cheat the people."

Dhaka North Mayor Atiqul Islam also attended the programme on creating awareness on the deadly disease.

On the issue of insecticides to kill mosquitoes, Quader said, "The process of importing effective insecticides is moving quickly. I hope the insecticides will be at our disposal in Dhaka within the next two to four days."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in London on a visit, also addressed  her government's plans to combat the dengue crisis in an interview with BBC Bangla.

Hasina emphasised household efforts for the elimination of Aedes aegypti mosquito, the carrier of dengue virus and warned, "If water inside or near someone’s home is found to be a breeding place of these mosquitos, the occupants will be fined."

Throughout July, 16,223 dengue patients were hospitalised while the figure reached 11,451 in the first five days of August as the total number of dengue patients so far this year has neared 30,000.

The number of patients who died from dengue this year has crossed 90, according to media reports. The government has put the death toll from dengue this year at 23, saying it was reviewing the new fatal cases.

Deshsangbad/Alo