Aedes mosquitoes-the dengue vector- are rising alarmingly beyond the capital, according to the latest survey by the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, with dangerously high levels of Aedes larvae found in Jhenaidah and Magura. The entomological survey was carried out in Dhaka and eight other districts between February and May, with the findings unveiled this week. In Jhenaidah municipality, Aedes larvae were found in 54 of 270 inspected households, with a Breteau Index (BI) - used to measure the risk of dengue fever transmission - of 60, far above the World Health Organisation's 'high-risk' threshold of 20. In Magura, the BI was at 55.

In Pirojpur and Magura, 100% of the vector mosquitoes identified were Aedes albopictus, also known as the Asian Tiger Mosquito. The IEDCR team has also launched an outbreak investigation in Barguna, where dengue cases have been surging. In capital Dhaka, the presence of Aedes larvae, including both the aegypti and albopictus genus, was confirmed in 58% of multi-storey buildings.

At least 312 people were killed and 1,057 injured in road accidents across the country during a 12-day period encompassing the Eid-ul-Azha holidays (June 3-14), according to a report by the Road Safety Foundation. That meant an alarming rise in fatalities by almost 30 percent compared to the same period last year, with an average of 26 deaths reported daily. The estimated loss of human resources from these accidents was calculated by the RSF to be Tk 1,218.72 crore. Over a third of the deceased were women (47) and children (63).

The report was compiled based on information from nine national dailies, seven online news portals and other electronic media, and RSF's own sources. Motorcycles were involved in 121 accidents, killing 107 people - over 34 percent of total fatalities. Besides, 44 pedestrians and 51 drivers or their assistants also lost their lives. Nine waterway accidents resulted in 10 deaths, while 21 people perished on the railways.

Short-term foreign debt in the country's private sector increased by $454 million in the three months from February to April this year, driven by a confluence of factors including the advantage of lower interest rates on foreign loans, stable foreign exchange reserves, and reduced exchange rate volatility. According to central bank data, the outstanding short-term foreign debt of the private sector stood at $9.8 billion at the end of January this year, marking its lowest point in four years. However, the trend reversed from February to reach $10.25 billion by the end of April - a 4.6 percent increase compared to January.

Short-term foreign debt in the private sector was lower only in December 2020, at $9.2 billion. After that it rose, reaching approximately $15.46 billion by the end of 2021, a nearly $6 billion rise within a year. It would start descending in December 2022, dropping below $10 billion before coming back up again.

As the Eid holidays wrapped up, supporters of Ishraque Hossain, one of the promising young leaders of the BNP, completed an effective takeover of Nagar Bhaban, the headquarters of the Dhaka South municipal body. On Monday(Jun. 16), with most residents of the capital still easing themselves back into the frenetic pace of life in the metropolis, Ishraque's face appeared on the news, speaking from a podium in what looked like the DSCC auditorium, in front of a large banner proclaiming him as the "Honourable Mayor".

As the week wore on, Ishraque did all he could to live up to the title. He met with the waste management workers, he sat with conservancy inspectors, with ward secretaries. Emergency services were resumed, after being forced to shut for over a month as his supporters laid siege to Nagar Bhaban, demanding his installation as mayor, in line with a High Court verdict.