While families across Bangladesh celebrate Eid-ul-Adha with festivity, the mood is sombre in hospital children’s wards, where many young patients are spending the holiday battling measles.
For these children and their families, Eid has brought anxiety instead of celebration, with new clothes unworn, family gatherings missed, and parents dedicating long hours to hospital care. The ongoing measles outbreak continues to strain paediatric wards nationwide, with new patients admitted daily.
Doctors and healthcare workers are working through the holiday to care for the growing number of infected children. Amid the festive atmosphere outside, families inside wards share a single wish – the speedy recovery of their children.
Four-month-old Mostakim from Pirpur, Narsingdi, has been receiving treatment at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute for six days. His condition worsened on Saturday with severe breathing difficulties.
A shortage of ICU beds meant he remained in the ward for several hours before being transferred to the DNCC Dedicated Covid Hospital, currently treating measles patients. His family hopes the transfer will improve his chances of recovery.
Nearly one-year-old Rifat from Dhaka’s Kalabagan area has been hospitalised for 13 days. His mother, working from home, has put aside professional responsibilities to stay by his side, spending Eid caring for her child rather than celebrating.
Beds remain occupied, anxious parents fill the corridors, and healthcare workers remain on duty throughout the holiday. For many families, the usual sounds of celebration are replaced by the beeping of medical equipment and quiet hope for recovery.
Meanwhile, eight more children died from measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours until 8:00 am on Saturday, taking the total death toll to 583 since 15 March. Among these, 493 deaths are suspected measles cases, while 90 are laboratory-confirmed, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
DGHS data shows 1,033 new suspected cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 69,612.
During the same period, 53 confirmed cases were reported, raising the total confirmed infections to 8,996. Since 15 March, 55,705 suspected measles patients have been hospitalised, of whom 52,050 have recovered. The measles outbreak continues to cast a shadow over Eid, highlighting the urgent need for vigilant healthcare measures and public awareness to protect children across Bangladesh.
