by Asif Showkat Kallol (Dhaka Bureau)
A devastating measles outbreak across Bangladesh is exposing the fragility of the country’s healthcare system and the failure of its vaccination programs. Since March, at least 409 children have died, and the number of infected cases has neared 50,000. International public health experts are describing the situation as a ‘planned disaster.’
A mother with a child infected with measles in a hospital ward waits for her child’s recovery. Photo- Collected.
On Saturday morning, the corridors of Dhaka’s Infectious Diseases Hospital echoed with the cries of Shiuli Akter. Her 10-month-old daughter, Mahjabin, passed away in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to measles-related complications. Mahjabin’s death is not just a statistic; it is a tragic reflection of Bangladesh’s current health crisis.
In the last 24 hours alone, 11 more children have died from confirmed or suspected measles. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), since March 15, 65 children have died from confirmed measles and 344 from suspected symptoms, bringing the total death toll to 409. Hospitals are now facing an acute shortage of ICU beds.
Meanwhile, a writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking 20 million BDT (2 Crore) in compensation for each of the families of the 352 children (recorded up to last Saturday) who died. On Sunday (May 10), Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Humayun Kabir Pallab filed a public-interest petition, naming the Health Secretary and other relevant authorities as respondents.
While government estimates previously suggested an average of six deaths per day, that number has surged to an average of 10 daily deaths over the past week. Despite official assurances that the mortality rate would decline, it has nearly doubled. Dhaka Division remains the most vulnerable, while Rangpur is the least affected. Official statistics show 47,656 symptomatic children nationwide, with 33,631currently hospitalized.
International donor agencies and partners (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank) maintain that there is no shortage of vaccines in Bangladesh; rather, there is a profound lack of proper management. Professor Abdus Sabur, a former advisor to the World Bank, revealed explosive information that specialized freezing vans acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic are sitting idle in Mohakhali due to a fuel crisis. Consequently, life-saving vaccines are not reaching remote areas from the central cold storage.
* Immunity Gap: Due to the absence of major national campaigns since 2020, nearly 85% of infected children are under the age of five, many of whom have received no vaccinations.
* False Claims: The World Health Organization (WHO) states that Bangladesh’s previous claims of eradicating measles were inaccurate, as the virus remained active internally.
* Neglect of Urban Slums: While emergency campaigns claimed a 98% success rate, nearly 40% of children in slums and floating populations remain outside the vaccination network.
In response, Health Services Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury has announced a high-level investigation committee. Under international pressure, the government is also preparing an ‘After Action Review’ to determine subsequent steps.
However, researchers warn that emergency campaigns alone are insufficient. Unless at least 95% of children are brought under regular routine immunization, Bangladesh’s ‘measles crisis’ threatens to evolve into a long-term public health catastrophe.
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The author:
Asif Showkat Kallol: Works for a German-based online outlet, The Mirror Asia, as Head of News and is a Contributor, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
