A petition has been filed seeking a case against former Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and former Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, along with three others, over allegations of negligence and delayed import of measles vaccines, which allegedly led to child deaths.
The other accused are former Health and Family Welfare Secretary Md Sayedur Rahman, former Principal Assistant to the Chief Adviser Md Sayedur Rahman, and former Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Md Abu Jafor.
Kishoreganj-5 MP Mujibur Rahman Iqbal filed the petition on Monday with the court of Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam. Court bench assistant Ashutosh Sarkar confirmed that the petition has been submitted but no hearing has taken place yet.
The petition alleges that despite being highly educated and a Nobel laureate, Yunus showed serious negligence in duty during his tenure as head of the interim government, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of hundreds of children and put thousands more at risk. The complainant claims the incident amounts to murder.
It further states that the other accused, while holding key positions in the health sector at the time, also acted negligently and deliberately failed to import measles-rubella vaccines on time, which led to punishable and inhumane consequences, including violation of citizens’ fundamental rights.
According to the petition, vaccines for diseases including measles-rubella are routinely provided by governments worldwide, significantly reducing child mortality. It says Bangladesh had long been importing vaccines through UNICEF.
However, after the interim government led by Yunus assumed office, vaccine imports through UNICEF were allegedly stopped. Although an open tender process was introduced, delays reportedly created a vaccine shortage.
The petition also cites UNICEF Bangladesh representative Rana Flowers, who in a 20 May interview reportedly warned the health authorities multiple times about a possible shortage and urged continuation of the existing import system. Despite meetings and warnings, the concerns were not acted upon, it adds.
As a result, many children reportedly missed scheduled measles-rubella vaccinations, leading to a measles outbreak.
The petition claims that from 15 March to 4 June, 75,708 children were admitted to hospitals with measles, while around 610 children died during this period according to government figures.
It also states that many more children were infected outside hospitals and were not included in official data, forcing families to spend significant money on treatment and increasing state expenditure.
The petition gives examples of child deaths and claims these occurred due to vaccine shortages and the outbreak. It alleges that negligence, wrong decisions and deliberate actions by the accused led to the crisis, putting millions of children at risk.
It further states that although the current government later ensured emergency vaccine supply, the damage caused by the delay cannot be undone. The petition seeks legal action and maximum punishment against those responsible.
