Lawyers seek trial of Yunus, Nurjahan
A group of lawyers has demanded the trial of former interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus and former health adviser Nurjahan Begum, alleging negligence in Bangladesh’s vaccination programme amid a rise in measles-related deaths.
The demand was made at a human chain programme organised under the banner of Sadharan Ainjeebibrindo in front of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court on Wednesday afternoon, 13 May.
Speakers at the event alleged that policy decisions taken by the interim government led to a vaccine shortage across the country. They claimed the shortage contributed to deaths from measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
The lawyers alleged that despite warnings from Unicef, the interim government moved to replace the existing vaccine procurement system with an open tender method.
They claimed the decision disrupted vaccine supply and created a severe shortage of measles vaccines nationwide.
Speaking at the programme, lawyer Kays Ahmed Arnob said Nurjahan Begum had been given responsibility for the health ministry despite lacking experience in the sector.
“There was gross negligence not only in measles vaccination but also in other vaccination programmes. We demand a proper trial,” he said.
Another lawyer, Silfat Aminul Karim, alleged that the then government cancelled previous agreements without ensuring alternative arrangements.
“The government must take responsibility for these premature deaths of children, and we demand justice from the current administration,” he said.
Lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi said the deaths of children due to vaccine-related negligence should be treated as a serious crime.
Towards the end of the programme, several lawyers staged a symbolic protest by covering their eyes and mouths with black cloth.
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Health Services said nine more children died from measles and related symptoms between 8am Tuesday and 8am Wednesday. During the same period, 1,489 patients with measles-like symptoms were admitted to hospitals across the country, including 126 laboratory-confirmed cases.
According to DGHS data, at least 69 children have died from confirmed measles infections so far this year, while 363 others have died with measles-like symptoms, bringing the total number of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 432.
