The government has formed a three-member commission to investigate delays, irregularities and administrative failures in measles vaccine procurement and distribution during the interim government, with the health state minister vowing accountability for those responsible.
The commission will examine incidents between 8 August 2024 and 17 February 2026, identify those responsible and recommend measures to prevent similar failures. It has been instructed to submit its report within 60 working days of its formation.
The decision was announced in a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Wednesday.
Former High Court Division judge Mamnoon Rahman has been appointed chairman of the commission. Its other members are Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) President Professor Moudud Hossain Alamgir and Health Services Division Additional Secretary ANM Moinul Islam.
According to the notification, the commission will investigate the causes of delays and irregularities in measles vaccine procurement and distribution, examine administrative failures and determine the responsibility of those involved.
It will also recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The commission has been authorised to visit any part of the country and summon and question anyone relevant to its investigation. The Health Services Division will provide secretarial support.
The investigation follows concerns raised by State Minister for Health MA Muhit over the suspension of routine measles vaccination and the failure to import emergency vaccine supplies during the interim government’s tenure.
Speaking to reporters after an international research event at the Super Specialised Hospital in Shahbagh on Thursday afternoon, Muhit said the country experienced an unprecedented measles outbreak just 15 days after the current government took office following its election victory.
He said an investigation had found that a national vaccination campaign scheduled for late 2024 or early 2025 had not been conducted by the previous government. The ministry had also failed to maintain any emergency vaccine stock.
“It is important for the people to know who made such irresponsible decisions and why the necessary vaccines were not imported,” Muhit said.
He said the government did not want to engage in a blame game but stressed that negligence by those in authority must not cost children their lives.
The investigation committee, comprising a judge and a medical specialist, is examining the entire process in detail, he added.
On efforts to address the vaccine shortage, Muhit said the government had urgently procured vaccines from domestic and international sources after taking office. Within one to two months, nearly 22 million children were brought under vaccination coverage, helping bring the situation under control.
Muhit also expressed concern over the growing risk of heart disease among young people in Bangladesh.
He attributed the rising incidence of heart attacks among younger people to excessive stress, unhealthy eating habits, smoking and a lack of physical activity. Such cases, he said, can devastate entire families, not just the individuals affected.
He also announced a five-year research project, ‘ACROSS-BD’, jointly undertaken by the UK, Bangladesh and Pakistan to help heart patients in remote areas access affordable rehabilitation and mental health services from their homes.
The project will provide eight young Bangladeshi doctors and researchers with opportunities to pursue PhDs internationally, he said.
Muhit urged the media to play a more active role in raising public awareness about the prevention of non-communicable diseases.
