Staff Reporter
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain yesterday said that the nation has had to pay the price for the previous government’s negligence regarding the measles vaccine.
“Many children had died due to negligence and delays in measles vaccination programs over four years during the tenure of the ousted Awami League government and the subsequent interim government,” he said.
After assuming office, the present government has taken swift measures and implemented a large-scale nationwide vaccination program
Sakhawat made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the nation-wide special measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign-2026 at the T&T playground at Korail in the city’s Banani area yesterday morning.
He said the nation has had to pay the price for the previous governments’ negligence, including the inef-fective operation of the routine immunization program from December 2020 to April 2026 and pro-longed delays in importing measles vaccines from abroad on the pretext of the open tender system.
“The tragic consequence was that many mothers lost their children,” he added.
Expressing profound sorrow and sympathy for the affected families, the minister said out of about 1.85 crore children, around 1,000 children died of measles.
“Every child’s death is extremely painful for the government and, at the same time, a matter of shame,” he said.
About the special vaccination campaign began yesterday, Sakhawat said after assuming office; the gov-ernment launched the vaccination program in three phases from April 5, while the nationwide campaign was intensified from April 20.
“So far, around 1.85 crore children have been vaccinated under the campaign, and we have set a target of bringing another 34 lakh children who were missed by the campaign under vaccination coverage (under the special vaccination campaign),” he said.
The minister said the special vaccination program for children aged six to 59 months will continue until October 31.
“Besides, 10 lakh vaccine doses have been kept in reserve for use in emergencies, while vaccination with these doses will continue under the routine immunization program,” he added.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md Safiqul Islam Khan chaired the inaugural session of the special vaccination campaign.
Health Services Division Secretary Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid, Additional Director General of the Directo-rate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr Md Zahid Raihan, Representative of Bangladesh UNICEF Gillian Mellsop and Deputy WHO Representative to Bangladesh Dr Rajesh Narwal attended the program as the guests of honor.
