Dengue has quietly crossed a line in Bangladesh.

Once a seasonal disease that flared up during the monsoon, it now spreads throughout the year, killing hundreds and sickening thousands.

Yet, despite record deaths and continuous transmission, the government has not declared it an epidemic — a decision that health experts describe as political, not scientific.

As of early November, dengue cases continue to surge nationwide.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has confirmed that October was the deadliest month of the year, with 80 deaths and over 2,200 infections.

Another 20 deaths were reported in the first week of November alone.

This year’s cumulative cases have already surpassed 2024 levels, though still below the unprecedented outbreak of 2023.

Hospitals in Dhaka continue to see over 1,000 new patients daily, forcing many to sleep in corridors or share beds.

The shift, doctors say, is not just numerical — it’s structural.

“Aedes mosquitoes are now breeding year-round,” said Professor Dr Kabirul Bashar, a leading entomologist.

“Once we could say dengue season starts with the rain. Now there is no season. Dengue has become endemic.”