Narayanganj Correspondent

The mosquito-borne dengue virus continues to spread in Narayanganj, showing a noticeable upward trend.

In the last 24 hours ending on Thursday , 70 new dengue cases were reported, bringing the district's total count to 1,609. According to local health department data, no deaths have been reported within the district itself. However, based on information from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), some fatalities have occurred among patients who traveled to Dhaka from Narayanganj.

The daily report from the District Civil Surgeon’s Office, released Thursday (November 7) morning, contains these updated figures. Currently, 135 people are being treated for dengue at Narayanganj's main hospitals, including the 300-bed Hospital, General (Victoria) Hospital, Araihazar Upazila Health Complex, Bandar Upazila Health Complex, Rupganj Upazila Health Complex, and Sonargaon Upazila Health Complex. So far, 1,474 patients have been discharged after treatment.

Councilors demand reinstatement NCC's citizen services

In a city corporation, ward councilors are typically responsible for providing essential services, such as issuing birth and death certificates. In the past, certain administrative functions were relocated from city headquarters to ward councilors’ offices to streamline the process and avoid inconveniences.

However, since a recent administrative change on August 5, there have been widespread transformations across different sectors. The mayor and councilors of the Narayanganj City Corporation were removed as part of a structural overhaul, leaving residents frustrated by delays and service challenges.

The corporation includes a total of 36 representatives across 27 wards, comprising councilors and reserved councilors. After their removal, 14 corporation officials were assigned to cover their duties. However, over six weeks later, the removed councilors report that residents are struggling to access essential services, and officials are reportedly struggling to meet demand effectively.

Several former councilors argue that restoring their positions would allow for more efficient delivery of services like road repairs, waste collection, and document certification at the ward level. Without them, many services are experiencing delays, and residents often have to travel to the city headquarters for even basic tasks, with no guarantee that issues will be resolved in a single visit.

According to former Ward 12 councilor Shawkat Hossain Shaku, residents are facing significant delays. "Services like road repair and waste cleanup aren’t being handled as quickly or effectively. Even simple certifications are taking longer as people have to go to city headquarters instead of coming directly to ward offices."

Former Ward 9 councilor Israfil Pradhan echoed the sentiment, stating, "Each ward has routine tasks that are best managed by councilors. Without us, residents are uncertain about where to go for help, often resulting in frustration and extended waiting times at the city office."

Councilors argue that without their reinstatement, residents will continue to face increased service delays and challenges, especially with additional demands in January and February for school admissions.