High Court to Hear Writ Seeking School Closures Amid Measles Outbreak

The High Court is scheduled to hear a writ petition this Monday (April 20) seeking the closure of educational institutions and a transition to online classes following a sharp rise in measles cases across Bangladesh.

The bench of Justice Razik Al Jalil and Justice Debashis Roy set the date after the petitioner moved the plea on Sunday.

The writ, originally filed on April 2, calls for the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the deaths of 47 children linked to the outbreak. It further argues that the state’s failure to maintain vaccine supplies and ensure timely immunization constitutes a direct violation of constitutional rights.

While the matter was presented during the court's vacation period, two separate benches declined to hear it at the time, leading to the current scheduling.

In a related development, an application has been submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) demanding an inquiry into alleged irregularities regarding the procurement of measles vaccines.