ISLAMABAD: A surge in deadly dengue fever has overwhelmed hospitals along Bangladesh’s coastal belt, especially in Barisal, where nearly half of the country’s 7,500 reported cases this year have been recorded.
The outbreak is being linked to climate change, poor water infrastructure, and rising vulnerability in low-lying regions.
Hospitals in Barisal and nearby Barguna are struggling to cope, with patients being treated on the floor due to a shortage of beds. Barisal health chief Shyamol Krishna Mondal called it “the worst we’ve seen.”
Tragically, five of the country’s 31 dengue deaths this year have occurred in Barisal alone. Among the victims is Azmeri Mona Lisa Zareen, a young mother whose grieving husband, Rakibul Islam Rajan, now comforts their two-year-old daughter, who continues to search for her.
Climate and Clean Water Crisis Fueling Dengue
Public health experts point to erratic rainfall, rising sea levels, and saltwater intrusion — all consequences of climate change — as major contributors to the crisis. The lack of clean water forces residents to store rainwater in containers, creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Kabirul Bashar of Jahangirnagar University stressed, “The water distribution system is almost absent,” making mosquito control difficult. Mushtuq Husain from IEDCR added that stagnant water in high temperatures is creating the perfect storm for disease spread.
A Growing Global Threat
Dengue, once rare in coastal Bangladesh, is now spreading faster and further, according to the World Health Organization. The WHO warns that around half the world’s population is at risk, with climate change accelerating the spread.
Locals are urging authorities to ramp up sanitation and cleanup efforts to prevent further tragedies. “Dengue has taken her,” said Rajan. “I don’t know how many more are in the queue.”
