Measles havoc in Bangladesh: 294 children have died so far, crisis deepened due to failure of vaccination system

Bangladesh Measles Outbreak Vaccine Crisis: The outbreak of measles in the neighboring country Bangladesh has taken the form of a terrible epidemic. In the last few days, 10 more children have died due to measles and its similar symptoms, taking the total number of deaths in the country to 294.

Quoting data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), it has been said that in just 24 hours between Saturday and Sunday morning, the number of deaths due to measles reached 50. Which has raised serious questions on the health system of the country.

What is the reason?

According to the report of Science Advisor, the main reason for this crisis is the huge obstruction in the procurement of the vaccine that started after the political protests of July 2024. Reports claim that the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina The country’s entire vaccination coverage system went haywire during the 18-month tenure of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus after the removal of PM from power.

The biggest change was seen in September 2025 when the interim government discontinued the old process of procuring vaccines through UNICEF and replaced it with an ‘open tender system’. Adopted. This new procurement process has led to delays in vaccine supplies and a sharp drop in vaccination rates across the country.

The situation is even more serious in these areas

Measles infection has spread to major divisions like Dhaka, Barishal, Chittagong, Khulna and Sylhet. The situation is very worrying especially in the hilly and remote areas like Alikadam of Bandarban district. Due to lack of basic health facilities and vaccines there, villagers are forced to treat their children with local remedies and herbal medicines. So far, 5,313 cases of measles have been reported in the country while the number of suspected cases has crossed 40,491.

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WHO warning

seeing the situation worsening World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that if vaccination is not increased immediately, the disease will spread more rapidly. Meanwhile, health experts have appealed to the Bangladesh government to officially declare it a health emergency. He says that the situation is already serious, therefore the government should not delay in declaring it an emergency.