The appointment of Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has sparked widespread enthusiasm among the party’s grassroots leaders and activists. Many party members believe that appointing Rizvi to the position is not merely an organizational decision but also a recognition of those who have remained active on the ground during the party’s difficult times.

According to grassroots BNP activists, Rizvi has consistently remained active at the party’s central office during challenging periods. Despite facing lawsuits, attacks, and various political pressures, he continued to communicate party programs to leaders and activists and presented the party’s political positions as its spokesperson.

Grassroots activists say that during various stages of political movements and struggles, when many leaders were unable to remain active in the field for different reasons, Rizvi continued to be visibly involved in party activities and political programs. His efforts to maintain communication with leaders and activists from different parts of the country, listen to their problems, and provide support during difficult times have helped him establish a strong connection with the grassroots.

BNP activists also claim that Rizvi played a significant role in keeping track of the families of party members who faced lawsuits, arrests, attacks, or other forms of hardship while participating in political programs. As a result, many grassroots activists regard him as someone they can personally rely on and consider him one of their own.

Grassroots leaders believe that the enthusiasm surrounding Rizvi’s appointment stems from his long political experience and direct involvement with the party’s grassroots. In their view, the decision also sends a message that activists who have remained active in the field are being recognized and valued.

Several grassroots leaders said that during the party’s difficult periods, many activists faced serious personal and political challenges but did not always receive the support they expected. However, they found opportunities to approach Rizvi, share their difficulties, and seek assistance. They hope that this relationship between Rizvi and the grassroots will continue in the future.

It is also reported that many senior BNP leaders have expressed satisfaction with Rizvi’s appointment. According to them, his extensive political experience, organizational skills, and ability to maintain close communication with party leaders and activists will enable him to strengthen the party’s organizational activities.

For BNP activists at the grassroots level, Rizvi’s new responsibility is therefore not being viewed merely as the promotion of an individual leader. Rather, they see it as a reflection of the aspirations of those who have remained with the party on the streets despite lawsuits, attacks, and various political difficulties.

In their view, Rizvi’s appointment as Secretary General will further strengthen communication between the party’s central leadership and its grassroots. They also hope that the problems, demands, and expectations of grassroots activists will be conveyed more effectively to the party’s highest level.

As a result, Rizvi’s new responsibility has created renewed expectations from the grassroots to the central leadership of the BNP. Party activists hope that he will use his long experience in grassroots politics to further organize the party, remain closely connected with its activists, and accelerate its organizational activities.

Despite increased spending on mosquito control, the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has failed to curb the mosquito menace. Instead, the spread of Aedes mosquitoes during the monsoon season has contributed to a rapid rise in dengue cases. Over the past 10 months, the CCC has spent around Tk 55 million on mosquito-control chemicals and equipment alone. Yet, a survey by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) found Aedes larvae densities in several areas of the city several times higher than the safe threshold.

Between the 2022 and 2026 fiscal years, the CCC purchased mosquito-control chemicals and equipment worth nearly Tk 140 million. Of this amount, Tk 52.1 million was spent on adulticides, which kill adult mosquitoes, while Tk 74.8 million was spent on larvicides to destroy mosquito larvae. Another Tk 13 million was spent on fogging machines and hand-spray machines.

On June 30, the CCC announced an allocation of Tk 250 million for mosquito control in the 2026–27 fiscal year. City Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain said the allocation was increased because of the rising incidence of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. In the previous fiscal year, the allocation for mosquito control was Tk 53.8 million.

According to DGHS data, 1,497 people in Chattogram district had been diagnosed with dengue as of August 19 this year. Three people had died, while 163 patients were undergoing treatment at different hospitals.

Data from the Civil Surgeon’s Office show that 663 people were infected with dengue during the first 19 days of August alone. In July, 536 cases were reported, indicating a rapid rise in infections over the two months.

July to October is generally considered the peak dengue season in Chattogram. During this period in 2022, 2,640 dengue cases were reported. The figure rose sharply to 12,003 in 2023. In 2024, 2,737 cases were recorded, followed by 3,060 cases in 2025.

The dengue situation over the past four and a half years also paints a worrying picture. In 2022, Chattogram recorded 5,445 dengue cases and 41 deaths. In 2023, cases reached a record 14,087, while 107 people died. In 2024, 4,323 cases and 45 deaths were reported. In 2025, 4,864 people were infected and 27 died. As of August 19 this year, nearly 1,500 cases and three deaths had been reported.

Survey Finds Alarming Aedes Presence

A pre-monsoon survey conducted by the DGHS found an alarming spread of Aedes mosquitoes in 18 wards of the city. Between June 8 and 18, survey teams inspected 370 houses and found Aedes larvae in 99 of them. They also examined 345 water containers and detected larvae in 114.

The survey recorded a Container Index of 33.04 percent, whereas the safe level is below 10 percent. The House Index stood at 26.76 percent, against a safe level of below 5 percent. The Breteau Index was 30.81 percent, while the safe level is below 20 percent.

North Kattali, Panchlaish, Jalalabad, West and South Bakalia, Patharghata, Anderkilla and South Halishahar were identified as high-risk areas.

Divisional entomologist Md Mofizul Haque Shah said 70 to 80 percent of the larvae found during the survey were Aedes aegypti. He said water stored in households because of water shortages, along with construction sites, had become major breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.

355 Workers for a City of 7 Million

Over the 10-month period from July last year to April this year, the CCC spent around Tk 55 million on mosquito-control chemicals and equipment. In addition, approximately Tk 5 million is spent every month on the salaries of 355 mosquito-control operators. The mosquito-control budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year was Tk 90 million, while Tk 38 million was spent in the previous fiscal year.

A total of 355 workers are engaged in mosquito-control activities across the CCC’s 41 wards. The city corporation claims that insecticides are sprayed every 72 hours in each block. However, residents complain that mosquito-control activities are not carried out regularly in many areas.

CCC Chief Conservancy Officer Ikhtiar Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury said providing services to a city of around seven million people with just over 350 workers was difficult. Nevertheless, he said the corporation was making its best efforts. He added that destroying larvae was more effective than killing adult mosquitoes, and therefore greater emphasis was being placed on larvicidal activities alongside fogging.

Fogging Alone Cannot Solve the Problem

Experts say spraying insecticides alone cannot effectively control mosquitoes. Regular assessments are needed to identify which mosquito species are present in particular areas, where their breeding grounds are located and which insecticides are effective against them.

Md Ahsan Habib Siam, a lecturer in the Department of Zoology at the University of Chattogram, said entomologists should be more closely involved in mosquito-control programmes. Without scientific expertise, he said, it would be difficult to achieve the desired results even after spending large amounts of money.

Urban planner Md Delwar Hossain Majumdar said prolonged use of the same type of insecticide could cause mosquitoes to develop resistance. Therefore, the effectiveness of insecticides should be tested regularly in laboratories.

CCC Mosquito Control Officer Md Sharfhul Islam Mahi said a special programme had been launched to combat dengue. A 60-member team is working in high-risk areas, and sufficient quantities of larvicides and adulticides have been stocked for the next six months.

Experts also stressed that citizens must play an active role alongside the city corporation. Preventing water from accumulating in homes, rooftops, flowerpots, discarded containers and construction sites could significantly reduce Aedes mosquito breeding.

Many grassroots leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have welcomed the decision to appoint Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as the party’s Secretary General, saying his elevation has renewed their enthusiasm, expectations and hope. Rizvi has long remained alongside party leaders and activists during periods of political struggle, lawsuits, arrests, repression and other challenges. According to grassroots activists, his appointment has created a renewed sense of optimism within the party’s rank and file.

The views emerged from conversations with 48 BNP leaders and activists from different districts and upazilas. Most of those interviewed described Rizvi as a tested, committed, prudent and grassroots-oriented leader. They said his longstanding direct communication with party workers and his efforts to address their various problems have helped establish a distinct level of acceptance for him among the grassroots.

Several BNP activists said that over the past 16 years, amid political pressure, legal cases, arrests and various forms of harassment, Rizvi has been among the leaders who have consistently remained accessible to ordinary party workers. His regular presence at the party office, court premises and political programmes has also kept him closely connected with the grassroots.

As a result, many grassroots activists have received the news of his appointment as Secretary General with enthusiasm and optimism.

According to the activists, the BNP has many tested and dedicated leaders who have remained committed to the party through difficult times. Thousands of leaders and activists have continued their political activities with faith in the ideals of the party’s founder, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, and the leadership of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

They also said that the party’s rank and file remain firmly committed to the leadership of Tarique Rahman and continue to await his directives. In the current political circumstances, they believe the party needs a leader who maintains close and direct communication with the grassroots. From that perspective, they consider Rizvi’s appointment significant.

Several party leaders said Rizvi’s long political struggle and sacrifices have now received recognition through his appointment to the post of Secretary General. They noted that even before assuming the new position, party activists from different parts of the country regularly approached him with various problems, and he tried to listen to their concerns and help resolve them within his capacity.

With his new responsibilities, both the workload and expectations surrounding Rizvi are expected to increase substantially.

According to several grassroots leaders, one of Rizvi’s greatest strengths is his accessibility. “You can speak to Rizvi and explain your problems to him. He listens to party workers attentively,” said one grassroots leader.

At the same time, they expressed the hope that Rizvi would maintain his longstanding connection with grassroots activists despite the increased responsibilities that come with the position of Secretary General.

Positive expectations regarding Rizvi’s new role have also been expressed by some members of the general public. Several people who spoke about the appointment said they viewed the BNP’s decision positively and wished Rizvi success in his new responsibility.

Grassroots leaders and activists expect the new Secretary General to strengthen the party’s organisational activities, further improve communication between the central leadership and grassroots workers, and ensure that the concerns and expectations of activists at the field level reach the party’s policymakers.

Overall, statements from grassroots BNP leaders and activists indicate that Rizvi’s appointment as Secretary General has generated renewed enthusiasm among a significant section of the party’s rank and file.

For many of them, appointing a leader who has remained closely connected with party workers during years of political adversity is seen not merely as a recognition of his long political service, but also as an opportunity to further strengthen communication between the party’s central leadership and its grassroots.

BNP Standing Committee member Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has been appointed acting secretary general of the party.The appointment was announced in a press release issued from the BNP’s central office on Thursday (August 20). It was made under Section 7(b)(6) of the party constitution and took effect immediately. Rizvi had long served as BNP senior joint secretary general before being elevated to the party’s National Standing Committee, its highest policymaking body (August 16).

The post of secretary general fell vacant after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir resigned on August 13 following his nomination as the BNP’s presidential candidate. 

The appointment came hours after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected Bangladesh’s 23rd president, securing 255 votes against 88 for his rival, Col (retd) Oli Ahmad.