The number of deaths and infections from dengue is steadily rising. As of September 21, 2025, dengue-related deaths have increased by nearly one and a half times compared with the same period in 2024, while infections have almost doubled.

From January 1 to September 21, 2024—a span of eight months and 21 days—125 people died from dengue, whereas this year during the same period the number rose to 179. Meanwhile, hospital admissions for dengue during this period were 23,108 last year and 41,831 this year, almost double. This pattern emerges from an analysis of data published on the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) website.

According to the Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room of the DGHS, in January 2024, there were 1,055 dengue cases and 14 deaths, while in January 2025, there were 1,161 cases and 10 deaths.

In February, the number of dengue deaths was the same both years at three, though there were three more infections this year, with cases recorded at 339 in 2024 and 374 in 2025.

No deaths occurred in March 2025, whereas five people died in March 2024. Cases for the same month were 311 in 2024 and 336 in 2025.

In April of this year, both cases and deaths exceeded the previous year. In April 2024 there were 504 infections and two deaths, while in April 2025 there were 701 infections and seven deaths.

In May 2025, infections were nearly three times higher than in May 2024, with 1,773 cases compared with 644 the previous year. Deaths during the same month fell from 12 in 2024 to three in 2025.

In June 2025, both deaths and infections were several times higher than in June 2024. Cases rose from 798 in 2024 to 5,952 this year. Deaths decreased from 19 in 2024 to eight in 2025.

In July 2025, dengue infections and deaths increased nearly fourfold compared with July 2024. Cases were 2,669 in 2024 and 10,684 in 2025, while deaths were 12 and 48, respectively.

August typically sees a peak in dengue cases. In August 2024 there were 2,669 infections and 12 deaths. In August 2025, the numbers rose to 10,496 infections and 39 deaths.

As of September 21, 2024, deaths totaled 42; this year, the number increased by 15 to 57. Infections, however, rose only slightly, with 10,267 cases recorded by the same date in 2024 and 10,355 in 2025.

Public health expert Dr. Lenin Choudhury said that although surveys had already predicted this year’s higher dengue outbreak compared with previous years, neither the government nor the relevant authorities took preventive measures. Speaking to Bonik Barta yesterday, he said, “In 2019, Bangladesh experienced a major dengue outbreak. It spread rapidly from urban areas to rural regions. No preventive measures were taken at that time. In January of this year, entomologists’ surveys showed that the density of Aedes mosquitoes was higher than in previous years. We expected that significant steps would be taken to prevent dengue based on these surveys—destroying mosquito breeding sites, spraying effective insecticides, arranging vaccination for young people, and providing free vaccines in rural areas, among other measures. But none of this was done. The agencies under the Ministry of Local Government have hardly taken any action. No mosquito prevention plan or implementation has been carried out. The city corporations and local government projects have also remained inactive.” In other words, despite advance warning, the lack of preventive action has allowed dengue to reach such levels this year.

Repeated attempts to contact Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum regarding this were unsuccessful, as she did not answer calls.

Meanwhile, rising infection rates have placed extra pressure on hospitals. Visits to hospitals in the capital found that while most dengue patients are from the Dhaka South City Corporation area, cases have recently increased in the North City Corporation area as well. By 8 am on September 19, more than a hundred dengue patients were being treated across five government hospitals in Dhaka. These include Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Combined Military Hospital, DNCC Dedicated COVID-19 Hospital, Mugda Medical College Hospital, and Kurmitola General Hospital. Doctors and nurses are struggling to manage the overflow, with extra beds placed outside wards due to limited space.

Doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital said that nearly twice as many patients are being treated compared with the available beds. Patient numbers began rising at the hospital after September 10. Previously, 30–35 patients were typically admitted per ward, but now 60–70 patients are admitted, while only 20 beds are allocated for dengue patients.

Brigadier General Md Asaduzzaman, Director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said, “Here, the number of female dengue patients is higher than males. Every day 20–30 new patients are arriving, so the number of patients exceeds the beds. We are still trying to provide the best possible care.”

Attempts to contact Dr. Moinul Ahsan, Director of the hospital branch at the Directorate General of Health Services, were also unsuccessful.