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Published : 06 May 2026, 06:58 PM
At least 300 children have died across Bangladesh after contracting measles, triggering demands from a student organisation for the trial of former chief advisor Muhammad Yunus and former health advisor Nurjahan Begum over alleged negligence.
The Revolutionary Students’ Alliance raised the demand on Wednesday afternoon in front of the Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University, also calling for measles to be declared an “epidemic” and for urgent nationwide containment measures.
General Secretary Jabir Ahmed Jubel said the interim administration had pushed children “towards death for profit” and must face strict punishment.
He said outbreaks have now been reported in 58 of the country’s 64 districts and urged the government to launch a full-scale response.
“There has been no effective action either during the interim period or under the current government. It seems they are waiting for more deaths,” he said, criticising the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) leaders for opposing the setting up of a temporary measles medical camp at the university’s central playground.
Another speaker Jahidul Islam Riad underscored the state of parents in mourning “on streets, in hospital corridors and at medical facilities”.
He contrasted this with what he described as the former interim head’s visit to Japan, where he “was seen exchanging flowers with Japanese children”.
He added that children’s deaths had been treated as “mere transactional losses” by the authorities.
Revolutionary Students’ Alliance member Nuzia Hasin Rasha alleged that both previous and interim governments had prioritised profit over public health in vaccine procurement, claiming tenders were designed to purchase cheaper vaccines rather than ensure quality.
She accused successive authorities of failing to ensure justice and warned that “consolation will not replace accountability”.
President Dilip Roy said the measles crisis was not natural but “human-made”, arguing that despite widespread debate in parliament, critical public health emergencies remained unaddressed.
He also criticised the lack of clear positions from major political parties on the issue.
Addressing political forces, he said public posturing often masked alignment with global powers.
Jubel further demanded immediate treatment and containment measures for infected patients to prevent further spread, warning that failure to act would lead to intensified protests against the government.
