Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has attributed the current measles outbreak to mismanagement by previous governments. He made the remark on Sunday while inaugurating a measles vaccination campaign at the Nawabganj Upazila Health Complex in Dhaka.

The minister announced that measles vaccinations will begin simultaneously across all districts and upazilas on May 3. In Dhaka North and South City Corporations, as well as in Mymensingh and Barishal, vaccinations will start earlier on April 12. He also stated that the government has initiated the process of purchasing measles vaccines using 604 crore taka that remained unspent during the COVID-19 period.

According to World Health Organization data cited by the minister, 82 percent of measles patients are under five years old, and this group will be prioritized for vaccination, with others to follow in phases.