HC sets tomorrow for hearing on plea to close schools over measles outbreak

The High Court has set tomorrow (20 April) for hearing a writ petition seeking directives to keep schools closed until the measles outbreak subsides and to form a high-level committee to investigate the deaths of 47 children from the disease.

A bench led by Justice Razik-Al-Jalil fixed the date today (19 April) after Barrister Purnima Jahan moved the petition before the court.

The writ, filed on 2 April, seeks court directives to temporarily shut educational institutions amid the outbreak.

It also calls for the formation of a high-level investigation committee into the reported deaths of children due to measles.

The petition was submitted to the relevant branch of the High Court.

Separately, a legal notice was sent to the government, asking authorities to arrange measles vaccines for children within 24 hours.

The notice was issued by human rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer Ekhlas Uddin Bhuiyan and sent to the health minister, health secretary and the director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

In the notice, he said a shortage of measles vaccines has persisted for some time, leading to children falling ill and dying in hospitals across the country, while authorities have not taken adequate measures.

The notice also referred to newspaper reports on recent measles-related deaths and a rising number of suspected cases.

It warned that if no action is taken within 24 hours, a writ petition will be filed under Article 102 of the Constitution.