UNICEF warned Bangladesh of vaccine shortages in 5 letters, held 10 meetings: representative

UNICEF Bangladesh chief maintains that she personally raised the alarm during at least 10 high-level meetings

Against the backdrop of a severe measles outbreak claiming children's lives across the country, UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh Rana Flowers has added fuel to the raging criticism surrounding the Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus-led interim government's vaccine management.

Addressing a press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday, Flowers revealed that the UN children's agency had dispatched five to six urgent letters to the health ministry under the interim administration, alongside holding at least 10 high-level meetings to warn of critical vaccine shortages.

She said concerns were raised consistently about procurement gaps and weakening supply chains that could affect immunisation coverage nationwide.

The revelation comes amid recent media reports on a letter Flowers sent to the then health advisor Nurjahan Begum on Feb 10 -- just two days before the national election -- warning of an "imminent shortage" of essential vaccines.

While that letter was dispatched during the final days of the interim administration, the UNICEF Bangladesh chief emphasised on Wednesday that it was far from the first official warning.

"I may not have all the specific dates in front of me right now, and I believe that will come out in the investigation," Flowers said.

"But I know that we sent five or six letters between 2024 and February 2026."

Explaining the timing of the Feb 10 correspondence, Flowers said it was a strategic move to ensure continuity of awareness during the political transition.

"That particular letter was sent in the hope that whoever assumed the post in the new government would find it directly on their desk. Following that, we followed up to seek information and requested meetings."

Flowers maintained that she personally raised the alarm during at least 10 high-level meetings with the interim government's health advisor and senior bureaucrats.

"I told them, 'We are worried'. I said, 'Look at my face -- I am worried that you are going to run into a shortage'."

The interim government, which took office following a student-led movement in August 2024, has faced intense scrutiny from health experts and the public over its handling of the routine immunisation programme.