Southeast University (SEU) hosted a national panel discussion on measles prevention and public awareness on Thursday, bringing together leading public health experts to examine the causes of the recent resurgence of the disease and discuss strategies to strengthen immunisation and disease surveillance in Bangladesh.
The discussion, titled “Measles Awareness and Prevention: Critical Review from National Health Experts”, was organised by the Department of Pharmacy in collaboration with the Southeast Pharmacy Club at the university’s Dhaka campus. The event highlighted outbreak investigations, public health challenges and measures to prevent future infections, SEU said in a press release.
The panel featured Professor Dr Md Abid Hossain Mollah, Professor and Senior Consultant of Paediatrics at BIRDEM; Dr Quazi Ahmed Zaki, Director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR); Professor Dr Mahmudur Rahman, former Director of IEDCR; and Dr Mustafizur Rahman, Senior Director at icddr,b. The session was moderated by Brigadier General (Retd) Dr Md Saidur Rahman, Team Leader of the Aalo Clinics.
Ahead of the panel discussion, the experts delivered presentations on different aspects of the disease. Md Abid Hossain Mollah presented “Measles: A Small Virus with Big Consequences”, while Quazi Ahmed Zaki discussed “Measles Outbreak Investigation in Laksham, Cumilla and Louhajang, Munshiganj, 2026”.
Mahmudur Rahman presented “Measles Resurgence in Bangladesh and Mitigation Efforts, 2026”, and Mustafizur Rahman spoke on “Measles Outbreak in Bangladesh: An Inevitable Crisis.”
According to the organisers, the presentations and subsequent discussion examined the factors behind the recent resurgence of measles, reviewed the status of outbreak investigations, outlined key public health challenges and shared recommendations for mitigating future outbreaks.
The experts emphasised the importance of strengthening routine immunisation programmes, improving disease surveillance and expanding public awareness to protect vulnerable populations from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Among those attending the programme were Professor Dr M Mofazzal Hossain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Southeast University; Dr Israt Jahan Bulbul, Chairperson of the Department of Pharmacy; and Professor Dr Md Selim Reza, Adviser to the Department of Pharmacy.
Professor Dr Hasnat M Alamgir, Director of the Institute of Research and Training (IRT) at Southeast University, delivered the vote of thanks.
More than 250 students, faculty members, staff and invited guests attended the event and took part in the interactive discussion, which focused on measles prevention, the importance of routine immunisation and the role of future healthcare professionals in controlling vaccine-preventable diseases.
