HC seeks report in 30 days on steps to tackle measles outbreak, save affected children
The court also issued a rule asking why authorities should not be directed to provide adequate compensation to the families of children who died during the outbreak.
The High Court has directed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to submit a progress report within 30 days detailing the measures taken to tackle the measles outbreak and save affected children across the country.
The court also issued a rule asking why authorities should not be directed to provide adequate compensation to the families of children who died during the outbreak.
In addition, the HC sought an explanation as to why a 10-member investigation committee comprising representatives from the World Health Organization, Unicef and Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) should not be formed to identify the root causes of the outbreak and those responsible.
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A High Court bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury passed the order today (19 May) after hearing a writ petition filed in the public interest, according to court sources.
The secretary of the Health Services Division, the home secretary, the director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the director of IEDCR have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.
On 10 May, Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Mohammad Humayun Kabir Pallab filed the writ petition, seeking directives to provide Tk2 crore in compensation to each of the families of children who died from measles and measles-like symptoms.
According to latest DGHS data, so far this year, at least 77 children have died from confirmed measles infections in Bangladesh. In addition, 398 children have died with symptoms consistent with measles.
Between 15 March and 19 May, a total of 7,929 measles cases were confirmed through laboratory testing. 56,586 suspected measles cases have been identified nationwide.
