The High Court on Monday asked the government to explain within four weeks why its failure to prevent and control the spread of measles, which has led to child deaths, should not be declared illegal.
The bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury issued the rule after hearing a public interest litigation filed by a Supreme Court lawyer, Luthfe Jahan Purnima.
The court’s decision came in the backdrop of the rising trend of suspected measles cases and deaths in spite of the government’s measures to contain the outbreak. Since March 15, deaths of children with measles symptoms have reached 240, while total suspected cases have risen to 33,386.
The Directorate General of Health Services data shows that suspected measles cases stood at 1358 on April 27, up from 1,058 on April 25. At least four children with measles symptoms died in the 24 hours until 8:00am on April 27 and the number was seven in 24 hours until 8:00am on April 26.
The court, in its Monday order, also asked the government to submit a report within two weeks detailing the steps taken to prevent and control the outbreak.
It directed the authorities to ensure an adequate and uninterrupted supply of vaccines, syringes, and other logistics.
The court further asked the government to strengthen medical facilities across the country, including specialised treatment units, intensive care support, and emergency response systems.
It asked the cabinet secretary, the secretaries to the health ministry and the local government ministry, the director general of the Directorate General of Health Services, the director of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, and the director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research to respond to the rule and comply with its directives.
There are allegations that delays in vaccine procurement, caused by bureaucratic indecision during the interim government’s tenure, have worsened the situation. As stocks ran out and vaccination campaigns were postponed, the number of unvaccinated infants increased, contributing to the outbreak.
Although Bangladesh had previously achieved high vaccination coverage and made significant progress in reducing measles-related deaths, recent gaps have reversed those gains, public health experts said.
According to them, the resurgence of measles reflects declining routine immunisation coverage in recent years, compounded by disruptions in vaccination services and uneven access to healthcare.
Experts warned that children infected at an early age faced a higher risk of severe complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and long-term disabilities, in addition to death.
In response to the outbreak, the government, with support from the WHO, UNICEF and Gavi, launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign on April 5 targeting children aged six months to five years in high-risk areas.
The emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign was expanded nationwide on April 20. The initiative aims to vaccinate around 1.8 crore children aged between six months and five years across Bangladesh. The drive will run until May 12 in non-city corporation areas and until May 20 in city corporation areas.
Health officials said that the campaign aimed to rapidly increase immunity among vulnerable children and interrupt transmission chains.
To increase the treatment facilities, the government also opened separate measles wards at hospitals across the country.
