Left-leaning student organisation Biplabi Chhatra Moitree has demanded an investigation into the deaths of at least 300 children from measles across the country and called for the trial of former interim government chief adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus and former health adviser Dr Nurjahan Begum, holding them responsible.

The demands were raised at a protest held at the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University this afternoon.

“For their own interests, the interim government pushed children toward death. They deserve severe punishment for this crime,” Biplabi Chhatra Moitree Central General Secretary Jabir Ahmed Jubel said at the rally.

Saying that measles outbreaks have been reported in 58 of the country’s 64 districts, he urged the government to officially declare the disease an epidemic and take all-out measures to prevent its spread.

Jubel also criticised the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) leaders for objecting to the establishment of a temporary medical camp for measles patients at DU’s central playground.

Speaking at the rally, the organisation’s DU unit General Secretary Jahidul Islam Riyad said, “Parents across Bangladesh are crying on the streets, outside medical facilities and at hospital doors, mourning the deaths of their children. At that time, former chief adviser Yunus was in Japan exchanging flowers with Japanese children.”

Jahidul further alleged that despite repeated warnings, the Yunus-led administration and former health adviser Nurjahan Begum had moved to procure vaccines through tenders not to ensure high-quality doses, but to purchase them at the lowest possible cost in order to save money and claim business success.

“Parliament discusses many issues, but no one speaks about important matters like the US (trade) agreement or the measles outbreak. Neither Jamaat nor BNP has taken a clear position on these issues; they appear to be silent together,” said Biplabi Chhatra Moitree President Dilip Roy at the rally.