DHAKA, April 8: Awami League leader Mohammad Ali Arafat sharply criticized the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, blaming it for worsening Bangladesh’s ongoing measles outbreak, which has claimed more than 128 lives since March 15, most of them children.
Arafat accused the previous interim administration of dismantling key public welfare initiatives introduced under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, including the national immunisation programme. He argued that these decisions left the country vulnerable to a major public health crisis.
According to reports citing Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Health Services, at least 10 additional deaths from suspected measles were recorded within a 24-hour period, highlighting the severity of the outbreak.
In a statement shared on social media, Arafat alleged that political motives drove the cancellation of essential health programmes.
He said this move disrupted vaccination efforts and created panic among families, especially those with newborns.
He pointed to data from the World Health Organisation’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation, noting that vaccination coverage in Bangladesh had previously exceeded 90 percent under the Awami League government.
However, in 2025, coverage reportedly dropped to 59.6 percent, a sharp decline that he said reflects serious gaps in policy continuity and implementation.
Arafat warned that reduced immunisation rates increase the risk of preventable diseases and child mortality, calling it not only a policy failure but a broader systemic breakdown.
He stressed that denying access to life-saving vaccines could be seen as a violation of the right to life, particularly for children.
He also linked the crisis to political instability during the 18-month tenure of the interim government, claiming that shifting priorities and governance challenges had significantly weakened the health sector.
According to Arafat, the Yunus administration focused more on targeting political opponents than addressing critical public health issues, while current authorities remain engaged in blame-shifting instead of taking corrective action.
Highlighting the broader consequences, Arafat cautioned that a worsening outbreak could have international repercussions for Bangladesh, including potential travel restrictions and negative health classifications. These, he said, could impact education, labor mobility, and the national economy.
He concluded by asserting that the interim government should be held accountable for pushing the country toward a potential health disaster. (IANS)
