The DCC invited the tender on April 15 this year with a mind to hand over the mosquito controlling responsibility to private operators. But very little progress has been made towards execution of the decision since.

Clarity Ecotech, a joint venture of Bangladesh and USA, Diligent Services Limited (a joint venture of Bangladesh and India) and Safeway Pest Control (a consortium of three Bangladeshi companies) took part in the bidding.

"About two months ago, I tried to withdraw my security deposit of Tk 20 lakh but. I refrained from it when DCC's Chief Health Officer Colonel Azizul Haq assured me that he would look into the matter soon," proprietor of Clarity Ecotech Sufi Iqbal said.

"Haq is in New Delhi now. After he returns, I will watch the development for a few days. If I find that the DCC is not sincere in its commitment, I will withdraw my money at the earliest. But If there is any positive initiative, I might decide to wait for another month or two," said Iqbal.

"It's been six months and still the DCC hasn't selected a bid. The security money has been lying with them over this period. We are really frustrated," said owner of Safeway Pest Control Dr Monjur Ahmad Chowdhury.

"We may ask the DCC to refund our money within a few days," added Chowdhury.

The other company Diligent could not be reached for their comments.

Dhaka Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka said that the interested companies knew that it would take some time before a decision as vital as this could be taken. "They participated in the bidding fully aware of it," said Khoka.

"Earlier, we had handed the responsibilities of waste disposal management of Gulshan to three private operators. I have learnt that the performance of one of those private operators is very poor. That's why I would prefer to take a very cautious approach about the privatisation of the mosquito programme," explained the Mayor.

"I won't take this important decision myself. I will place the evaluation committee's report to the board of directors. They will then decide whether we will privatise mosquito control or not," said Khoka.