Bangladesh is seeing a sharp rise in dengue cases, putting hospitals under growing pressure as the number of patients requiring treatment continues to climb. At Mugda General Hospital in Dhaka, 187 dengue patients were admitted on Monday against 60 designated beds. With the available capacity overwhelmed, some patients were being treated on floors and verandas, while similar pressure was reported at several other government and private hospitals in the capital.
The strain comes as the country recorded its highest number of dengue hospital admissions in a single day this year. In the 24 hours until 8am on Monday, eight people died from dengue and 1,733 patients were admitted to hospitals, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) dengue bulletin.
Entomologists have warned that the situation could become more serious in October, raising concerns about the ability of hospitals to cope if admissions continue to increase.
Deaths and admissions rise rapidly
A total of 157 people have died from dengue in Bangladesh this year, while 53,570 patients were admitted to hospitals between 1 January and 14 September. The number of deaths recorded during the first 14 days of September alone was 60.
Among the eight people who died in the latest 24-hour period, four were from Dhaka Division, three from Chattogram Division and one from Mymensingh Division.
The situation at Mugda General Hospital reflects the growing pressure on healthcare facilities. During a visit to its dengue ward on Monday, patients were found receiving treatment not only in designated beds but also on floors and verandas. In some cases, more than one patient had to share a bed.
Such overcrowding creates additional pressure on doctors and nurses, particularly when patients need regular monitoring, medication and other forms of clinical care.
Dr Nurul Islam, deputy director of Mugda General Hospital, said the number of patients had increased as the dengue outbreak intensified. He said additional beds, doctors and nurses were needed to manage the situation.
For some families, finding a hospital bed has become a struggle in itself. Nurjahan Begum, a resident of Matuail in Dhaka, said her 20-year-old granddaughter Jahin had been suffering from dengue for more than a week. When her condition deteriorated, relatives tried to have her admitted on medical advice.
They visited three or four government and private hospitals but could not find an available bed. Jahin was eventually admitted to Mugda General Hospital, where she is being treated on the floor because no bed was available.
Nurjahan said the family had gone from one hospital to another but could not secure a bed.
Pressure spreads beyond the capital
The increase in dengue admissions is also being felt outside Dhaka. According to DGHS data, of the 1,733 patients admitted during the latest 24-hour period, 388 came from areas of Dhaka Division outside the city corporations.
Barishal and Chattogram divisions each recorded 191 admissions. Dhaka North City Corporation recorded 170 cases, while Dhaka South City Corporation recorded 143.
Khulna reported 302 admissions, followed by Rajshahi with 145, Mymensingh with 110, Rangpur with 86 and Sylhet with seven.
Of the 53,570 people admitted to hospitals with dengue this year, 49,375 have recovered and been discharged. Another 1,282 patients are currently receiving treatment in hospitals across the country.
August recorded the highest number of dengue cases so far this year, with 20,536 hospital admissions. Forty-three people died during the month. The sharp rise in deaths during the first half of September has added to concerns that the outbreak is entering a more difficult phase.
Hospitals prepare for further pressure
The DGHS said the rate of dengue admissions is rising rapidly, placing pressure on both government and private hospitals. Some facilities are already treating more patients than their usual capacity allows.
Authorities have instructed government hospitals to increase bed capacity where possible. If public hospitals lack beds or other necessary facilities, patients may be referred to private hospitals to ensure they receive treatment.
Professor Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas, director general of the DGHS, said patients would be transferred to private hospitals if government facilities faced shortages of beds or other resources. Hospitals have also been instructed to expand their capacity according to their capabilities.
The health authorities are also seeking to strengthen treatment facilities outside Dhaka. Instructions have been issued to reinforce healthcare services at upazila level in areas where dengue is more prevalent.
The aim is to reduce the flow of patients towards the capital by ensuring that people can receive treatment closer to their homes.
October may bring a fresh surge
The prospect of a further rise in cases next month is causing particular concern. Entomologist Professor Kabirul Bashar said his forecasting model indicated that the dengue situation could worsen in October.
He made the comments at a seminar on a strategic action plan for dengue prevention held at the Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. Professor Bashar said tests carried out at different times had shown that Aedes mosquitoes can also bite at night.
Although Culex mosquitoes become more visible during winter, Aedes mosquitoes are comparatively less noticeable. This can lead people to underestimate their presence and the continuing risk of dengue transmission.
Professor Bashar stressed the need for people to understand mosquito behaviour more clearly. He said Bangladesh has 126 mosquito species, with colonies of seven to eight species present in the country.
Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Dr Abdul Moin Khan, speaking at the same event, said the fight against dengue was not an easy one. Although controlling the disease may appear straightforward, he said the reality was much more difficult.
More beds alone cannot solve the outbreak
Public health specialist Dr Mushtak Hossain said increasing hospital beds could provide temporary relief but would not address the underlying source of dengue transmission.
He stressed the need to destroy mosquito breeding sites, maintain effective mosquito-control operations and improve public awareness. Local-level systems for identifying and treating patients must also be strengthened, he said.
The concern is particularly significant because Bangladesh has experienced several major dengue outbreaks in recent years. According to DGHS figures, 102,861 dengue patients were admitted to hospitals in 2025, while 413 people died.
In 2024, 101,214 patients were admitted and 575 deaths were recorded. The worst recent outbreak came in 2023, when 321,179 people were hospitalised and 1,705 people died.
The current figures have not yet reached the levels seen during the 2023 outbreak, but the rapid increase in admissions and deaths in September has raised fresh concerns. The warning of a potentially worse situation in October adds to the urgency.
For hospitals, expanding bed capacity and ensuring adequate medical staff will be essential to manage the immediate pressure. But health experts say a lasting reduction in dengue cases will depend on controlling Aedes mosquitoes, eliminating breeding sites and strengthening prevention and treatment services at local level.
