Most of them have been passing their nights in the open field, producing thick smoke from various sources to scare off the insects. Many families also moved to safer places in nearby Kalapara Upazila.

Swarms of mosquitoes from protected forestlands in Khajura, Lembuchar and Mombipara attacked the villages in Latachapli Union on Thursday, making the life of villagers miserable, said Union Parishad Chairman Abdul Barek Mollah.

The waterbodies in the forestlands are the breeding ground of the mosquitoes, he said, adding that lack of rain for a long time has resulted in the rapid breeding of the insects.

The swarm of mosquitoes is so thick that the sunrays cannot enter through it, darkening the area, said Sohrab Hossain, a UP member of No. 8 Ward, who has moved to Alipur.

Syeed Fakir, another UP member, said hundreds of chickens have perished and cattle have fallen sick due to attack by the mosquitoes.

Although nobody became seriously ill due to attack by the insects, children and elderly people have been suffering from fever.

The affected villages are Khajura, Naioripara, Fansipara, Hossainpara, Kalaipara, Mongthoypara, Mombipara, Panjupara, Melapara and Sharifpur.

UP Chairman Barek Molla said they held an emergency meeting in this regard and urged the district and upazila administration to take immediate steps to eliminate the mosquito menace.