HC orders urgent measles vaccination for infected children nationwide

The High Court has directed the authorities to urgently administer necessary measles vaccines to infected children across the country.

At the same time, the court ordered the Ministry of Health to submit a report within two weeks on the activities of the committee formed to investigate the reasons behind the failure to provide measles vaccinations.

The bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debashish Roy issued the order today (27 April) after hearing a public interest writ petition filed in this regard.

Earlier, Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Purnima Jaahan filed the writ petition on 2 April, seeking directives to keep schools closed until the outbreak subsides and to form a high-level investigation committee over the deaths of 47 children due to measles.

However, the court did not issue any order regarding school closures or the continuation of online classes.

The petition stated that failure to ensure timely vaccination, maintain vaccine availability, and shortcomings in healthcare facilities and emergency response constitute clear violations of the Constitution.

Prior to this, on 1 April, a legal notice was served demanding arrangements for measles vaccination for children in Bangladesh within 24 hours.

The notice was issued by human rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer Ekhlas Uddin Bhuiyan.

The notice named the Health Minister, the Secretary of the Ministry of Health, and the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) as respondents.

In the notice, lawyer Ekhlas Uddin stated that due to a shortage of vaccines, children in various parts of the country are dying from measles, while many others are receiving treatment in hospitals after being infected.

He further alleged that the concerned authorities have failed to take the necessary measures despite the worsening situation.