The government will form an investigation committee involving international organisations to probe the ongoing measles vaccine crisis in Bangladesh, said Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, adviser to the prime minister on information and broadcasting.

Describing the current measles situation as a “disaster”, Zahed said he had personally spoken with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman regarding the vaccine shortage.

“Following the discussion, a decision has been made to form an investigation committee. The probe will be credible and the process is already underway,” he said while updating journalists on government activities regarding measles.

He came up the remarks three days after Health Secretary Quamruzzaman Chowdhury, on May 9, said an investigation had already been launched to determine whether negligence played a role in measles deaths and, if so, who is responsible.

Zahed further said not only Bangladesh but also several international organisations are expected to be involved in the probe.

Vaccination activities are ongoing, but building a strong community response will take time, he said.

“During measles outbreaks, some children develop pneumonia and require intensive care. However, the country’s current healthcare infrastructure is not always capable of providing that level of service,” he said.

He also noted that similar situations were seen globally during the Covid-19 pandemic, when health systems came under severe pressure.