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have remained outside vaccination coverage, leaving them vulnerable to infection, he added.

He also said the poor decisions of those governments had caused shortages in stockpiles of measles and six other vaccines.

In his notice, Akhter asked why vaccinations had not been conducted, expressing concern over the rising death of children from the disease and thousands of infections.

He questioned whether the health minister’s claim of no measles vaccination in eight years was accurate.

Earlier, on March 29, the minister had told journalists that measles vaccines had not been administered in the country for the past eight years.

Children aged nine months and 15 months receive measles vaccinations twice under the regular immunisation programme. Special campaigns are held every four years to cover those missed by the regular drive, with the last campaign conducted in December 2020. The 2024 campaign could not be carried out due to the political changeover.

Akhter also said measles treatment requires isolation, yet hospitals lack isolation facilities, even in major and district-level hospitals, especially in Rajshahi, where ICU and NICU facilities are absent.

He added that measles vaccines are given starting at nine months of age, but now even six-month-old infants are being infected. He urged an investigation into why epidemiologists failed to identify the cause.

He said the government began an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign on Sunday in 18 districts and 30 high-risk upazilas, targeting all children aged six months to five years.

Regarding hospital facilities, the minister said isolation wards have been arranged in all government hospitals, with 250 additional isolation beds being prepared in Rajshahi.

“ICU and ventilator facilities are being readied, and a new oxygen flow system developed by icddr,b -- at a cost of only 300 taka -- is being used to deliver oxygen,” he added.

He said vaccines are being procured urgently, with the World Bank promising support through loans and grants.

In a supplementary question, Akhter alleged mismanagement at the grassroots level, saying that despite allocations, ordinary people are not receiving isolation or ICU facilities.

He noted that about 25 percent of the health budget remains unspent, with Tk 11,000 crore unused in FY 2024-25.

In reply, the health minister said that Tk 604 crore of unspent Covid-era funds is being used to procure additional measles vaccines from Unicef.

He assured that the ministry is alert to prevent future shortages, has cancelled all staff leave to strengthen field monitoring, and is coordinating closely with development partners, including the World Bank and Unicef.