Dhaka, Apr 10:
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.