A case has been filed against former interim government Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus and four others, including former Health Advisor Nurjahan Begum, over the deaths of children from measles linked to an alleged vaccine shortage and medical negligence.
Independent MP for Kishoreganj-5, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal, filed the lawsuit on Monday morning at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court.
Alongside Dr. Yunus and Nurjahan Begum, the accused include former Health Secretary Saidur Rahman, Dr. Yunus's former Special Assistant Dr. Sayedur Rahman, and former Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Director General Dr. Abu Zafar.
The plaintiff alleges that the interim government's negligence and mismanagement of the tender process halted the import of critical foreign vaccines.
"This mismanagement allowed the disease to spread across the country," Iqbal stated. "I am seeking accountability for this incident to ensure that no future government neglects the health of our children."
The lawsuit follows a May 20 press conference by UNICEF regarding the national measles situation. During the briefing, UNICEF representative Rana Flowers stated that the organization had warned the interim government 10 times and sent five formal letters regarding the impending vaccine crisis. According to Flowers, the health administration failed to take preventive action at the time.
