A protest rally was held in Dhaka, Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the initiative of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), demanding the government take urgent steps to prevent child deaths from measles and to bring to justice those responsible for the deaths of more than four hundred children from measles.
Communist Party of Bangladesh condemns child deaths
CPB leaders said at the rally:
"Already, 50,000 children have been infected with measles. According to official data, 435 children have died. According to private estimates, this number is higher. Measles has spread to epidemic levels across the country. This heartbreaking disaster has occurred because of the interim government's delay in purchasing vaccines and its failure to bring children under the ambit of vaccination."
The leaders also said that the government has failed to take the kind of initiatives that were supposed to be taken at lightning speed. Children in different parts of the country are still not getting the necessary vaccinations. There is also discrimination in vaccination between villages and cities. There is a lack of various initiatives, including the necessary government publicity and campaigns on measles, especially ICU service activities.
Leaders said that urgent vaccination programs should be strengthened immediately, necessary medicines and treatment should be provided.
They pointed out that by not purchasing vaccines on time, the interim government has shown boundless negligence. The death of children due to this negligence is a punishable crime. The responsible individuals in the government and administration must be identified and punitive action must be taken against them immediately. The interim government committed a crime of negligence, but the current government's failure to prevent deaths in three months is also tantamount to indifference. The leaders urged the government to take immediate urgent steps to stop the march of unwanted deaths.