Measles Outbreak: Opposition demands health emergency

Six children died from measles or measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours till 8am on Sunday, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), as the country’s worsening outbreak drew fresh political fire and renewed calls from the opposition to declare a national health emergency.

Of the latest deaths, one was laboratory-confirmed as measles; the remaining five were classified as suspected cases.

During the same 24-hour window, 1,274 patients with measles symptoms were admitted to hospitals across the country, of whom 243 were confirmed through testing.

“After December 2020, until we began the programme in 2026, no measles vaccines were administered.

In fact, we did not even have a single measles vaccine in our hands,” said Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain.

streets if the demands were ignored.

He made the remarks while addressing a divisional rally of the 11-party opposition alliance at the historic Madrasa ground in Rajshahi.

The rally was organised to press home demands for implementation of the referendum verdict, easing public suffering and ensuring Bangladesh’s fair share of Padma River waters.

Shafiqur said upstream interventions had badly affected Bangladesh’s rivers, including the Padma and the Teesta.

“The Padma becomes a desert in the dry season and a source of suffering in the monsoon,” he said, urging the authorities to take effective steps for implementing the proposed Padma Barrage and the Teesta master plan.

He also called for restoration of river navigability, saying proper river management was essential for protecting agriculture, livelihoods and regional development.

The Jamaat chief said the people must remain united to realise their rights.

“This country has 200 million people. We all must stand as protectors. No one will hand over rights to us out of mercy; we must fight for them,” he said.

Turning to governance issues, Shafiqur questioned what he described as widespread “political grabbing” across different sectors.

“Why is political grabbing happening everywhere with brute force?” he asked.

He criticised alleged politicisation in public institutions, including Bangladesh Bank and public universities, saying competent officials were being replaced by “loyal but unqualified” people.

Referring to alleged partisan appointments at the central bank, he said: “You could not even keep the central bank of the country properly. You have appointed an incompetent, partisan person there.”

He also accused the ruling BNP of failing to curb corruption and extortion.

“Your identity used to be the nationalist party. Now people call you the extortion party,” he said.

Shafiqur alleged that banks and financial institutions had been “looted” and unemployment was increasing, calling for a greater focus on development, employment and institutional reforms.

On regional relations, he said Bangladesh respects neighbouring countries but opposes discrimination and harassment based on religious identity.

“We do not want division or unrest based on religion, but we see harassment of people based on identity,” he said, urging the international community to act on humanitarian concerns.

Describing Bangladesh as a country of religious harmony, he said all citizens must enjoy equal rights regardless of faith.

The rally was presided over by Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and Rajshahi regional chief Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan.

Leaders and activists of the 11-party alliance also attended the programme.