Dengue cases continue to rise in Bangladesh, especially in areas outside the capital Dhaka. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), of the 288 people hospitalised with dengue yesterday (June 11), 276 were outside Dhaka, especially in Barishal and Chattogram. It is the highest daily tally of dengue cases reported this year. At a general level, of the thousands of cases recorded since the beginning of 2025, 75% have been reported outside Dhaka. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control noted that Bangladesh is experiencing more dengue cases this year than during the same period in 2024. As of May 25, 2025, the country recorded 3,972 cases and 23 deaths, compared to 2,853 cases and 41 deaths by the same date in 2024. Experts attribute the surge in cases to inadequate mosquito control, low public awareness, and the presence of multiple dengue serotypes.
Professor Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist at Jahangirnagar University, identified Barishal, Barguna, Chattogram, and Cox’s Bazar as the most affected districts by the current outbreak. He also noted that while mosquito control in Dhaka has been inadequate, conditions outside the capital are even worse. Moreover, 50% of Dhaka residents have been exposed to different dengue serotypes since 2000, developing some level of immunity. In contrast, people outside the capital have had far less exposure, making them more vulnerable to the disease. Bashar emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive mosquito control measures across the country.
