Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said the failure to vaccinate children against measles during the tenures of the previous two governments amounts to an “unforgivable crime”.
He made the remarks while addressing the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officers Conference-2026 as chief guest in Dhaka on Saturday, organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The prime minister said the government has launched an emergency measles vaccination drive to prevent any recurrence of such incidents in the future.
“Thanks to swift measures, by the grace of Allah, it has been possible to prevent further deterioration of the situation,” he said.
The prime minister expressed his condolences to the parents and families who lost children during the measles outbreak.
He also stressed the need to ensure accountability across all hospitals and healthcare centres in the country.
“Bringing every hospital and health facility under accountability to ensure citizen healthcare services is now a demand of the time,” he added.
