TUHIN SHUBHRA ADHIKARY

The interim government’s ineptitude and apathy that eventually led to a measles outbreak has so far left 294 children dead, say experts and officials.

The death toll, which includes suspected cases, continues to rise, just as the contagion spreads. As of yesterday, there were over 45,000 cases, confirmed and suspected, across 61 districts of Bangladesh.

The outbreak is largely attributed to the Yunus-led government’s mishandling of a successful vaccination programme that had been recognised as a model for poor countries. The 18-month government that ran the country had attempted to change the method of procurement and funding source which caused procurement delays leading to a vaccine shortage and eventual stockout. This, in turn, led to an outbreak. Discontented health workers and intermittent strikes further compounded the situation, they said.

Although experts had alerted about a declining coverage and urged for action, the government failed to carry out a campaign at any point of its 18-month tenure. The government was, in fact, due to run a special measles campaign in mid or late 2024, which never happened.

World Health Organisation (WHO) blamed this crisis on measles and rubella (MR1 and MR2) vaccines being out of stock in Bangladesh between 2024 and 2025, combined with routine immunisation gaps and the absence of nationwide supplementary campaigns since 2020.

The Daily Star spoke to a dozen experts, current and former officials of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), the health directorate and the ministry to understand how a well-established system broke down during the Yunus government.

THE TRIGGER

The health ministry has been implementing the Health, Population, and Nutrition Sector Programme (HPNSP) since 1998, popularly known as Operation Plans (OPs), to provide a range of health, nutrition, vaccination, and family planning services.

The fourth HPNSP had ended in June 2024 and the then Awami League government had proposed a fifth edition of the OPs worth Tk 1.061 trillion for another five years.

Documents show that a project evaluation committee sat for 60 meetings at the planning commission between July and November, 2024, concluding that this fifth edition would be the final one. The committee asked the health ministry to prepare an exit plan.

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