The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has directed educational institutions across Bangladesh to strengthen cleanliness and dengue prevention measures, including removing stagnant water and destroying mosquito breeding grounds, under an urgent directive issued on October 18.
The directive, issued on October 18, asked heads of institutions to ensure that classrooms, offices, corridors, rooftops, toilets and surrounding areas were cleaned regularly. Any stagnant water on the premises must be removed promptly to prevent mosquito breeding.
The DSHE described the matter as extremely urgent and called for effective measures to destroy mosquito breeding grounds and reduce the risk of dengue transmission.
The instruction followed recent surprise visits by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to several establishments in Dhaka, according to the directive. The visits were conducted as part of visits to hospitals, educational institutions and residential areas of government officials and employees in the capital.
The institutions mentioned in the directive included Rajuk Uttara Model College, Mirpur Cantonment Public School and College, and Mirpur Bangla College.
Against this backdrop, authorities instructed educational institutions in Dhaka and across the country to ensure clean surroundings and maintain overall discipline.
The directive also called for dengue awareness activities involving teachers, students and staff. Institutions were asked to maintain hygienic environments and ensure the necessary administrative preparedness to deal with dengue risks.
The instruction was signed by Professor Md Nazmul Haque, director (college and administration) of the DSHE.
Copies were sent to the directorate’s regional directors, principals of government and private colleges, head teachers of schools, district education officers, and upazila and thana secondary education officers.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease, and stagnant water can provide breeding sites for mosquitoes. The DSHE directive emphasises regular cleaning, the removal of standing water and awareness activities as preventive measures within educational institutions.