Health Officials Blame Interim Government for Measles Crisis

More than 32,000 suspected measles cases and upwards of 250 deaths have been recorded across Bangladesh since mid‑March, marking a dramatic escalation of the disease. Experts point to the interim government's decision to stop UNICEF vaccine purchases in September 2025 as a key factor that crippled the national immunisation schedule. An open‑tender process intended to replace the halted supply faced significant delays, further aggravating the shortage.

The outbreak began in January near Rohingya camps at the Myanmar frontier and soon spread to 58 of the 64 districts, resulting in over 21,000 hospitalisations. Government statistics reveal that only 59 % of children eligible for the measles jab were vaccinated in 2025, a figure later scrubbed from official sites.

Compounding the crisis, a vitamin‑A distribution initiative stalled in 2024, leaving children more vulnerable to infection. Although procurement resumed through UNICEF in April and an emergency vaccination operation was initiated, the rapid surge of cases suggests that containment will be challenging. Legal action has been taken, accusing the administration of corruption and procurement failures.