With child deaths from measles on the rise, the Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) dispensation has stated that it inherited a full-blown vaccine crisis, claiming there was not a single measles shot in stock when it assumed office. These remarks are seen as a veiled criticism of both the previous government led by Sheikh Hasina and the interim setup under Muhammad Yunus.
Health Minister Points to Past Failures
Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said on Sunday, "The current measles outbreak is because of the absence of regular nationwide immunisation programmes after December 2020 and the severe shortage of vaccines in subsequent years." He referred to the tenures of Hasina as Prime Minister and that of Yunus as head of the interim government.
Rising Death Toll and Infections
In the wake of nearly 460 children dying from measles—six in the last 24 hours—and over 7,400 infected since mid-March, the Bangladesh High Court has admitted a plea seeking to bar Yunus and 24 others from leaving the country pending completion of an investigation into the shortage of measles vaccines. On Monday, the High Court adjourned the hearing on the plea, which also seeks directions to form an independent investigation commission to determine responsibility for irregularities, delays, and administrative failures in the procurement and distribution of measles vaccines. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday.
Unicef Warnings and Vaccination Efforts
Officials said that Unicef-Bangladesh had repeatedly warned the Yunus-led interim government about an impending vaccine shortage and the consequent risk of disease outbreaks. Overall, 42,092 suspected measles patients have been hospitalised, of whom 37,744 have recovered. Following years of gap in the measles vaccination campaign, Health Minister Hossain said that with the help of Unicef, vaccination was restarted in 2026 after the BNP assumed office. However, he admitted, "In fact, when we started we did not even have a single measles vaccine in our hands."
Current Situation Still Dire
Hossain said the situation has "improved somewhat" following extensive vaccination campaigns carried out in affected districts, upazilas, and city corporation areas. However, health experts and doctors noted that the on-ground situation is still dire. The steep increase in cases has put health officials on high alert, especially in densely populated areas of Dhaka where the disease is spreading quickly.
