A large-scale measles vaccination campaign has begun in Chandpur, aiming to immunize 321,000 children aged six months to five years. The program will continue until April 25, with an official inauguration scheduled at 10 a.m. on Monday at the District Collectorate School by Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik, Member of Parliament for Chandpur Sadar.

Ahead of the campaign, a press conference was held at the Chandpur Press Club, where Dr. Md. Rafiqul Hasan Faisal, the Upazila Family Planning Officer, explained the symptoms and transmission risks of measles. He emphasized that the virus spreads rapidly and poses serious danger to young children, urging parents to ensure timely vaccination. To support the effort, 2,424 vaccination centers have been set up across the district, staffed by 313 teams.

Local journalists, including the president and former leaders of the Chandpur Press Club, attended the briefing and shared their views and suggestions regarding the campaign’s implementation.

The High Court of Bangladesh will hold a hearing on Monday regarding a petition demanding the closure of all educational institutions until the nationwide measles outbreak is brought under control. The date was set on Sunday, April 19, 2026, by a bench led by Justice Rajik Al Jalil. Barrister Purnima Jahan represented the petition in court.

The petition, filed on April 2, seeks a directive to keep schools closed until the measles situation improves and requests the formation of a high-level investigation committee into the deaths of 47 children reportedly caused by the disease. In addition, a legal notice was sent to the health minister, health secretary, and the director general of the Directorate General of Health Services, urging immediate action to ensure measles vaccination for all children within 24 hours.

The notice stated that vaccine shortages have led to infections, hospitalizations, and deaths among children, while authorities have yet to take effective measures. Media reports on child deaths and hundreds of infections were attached to the notice as supporting evidence.

The Noakhali health department has completed preparations for a large-scale measles vaccination campaign targeting 505,350 children across the district. The announcement was made by Civil Surgeon Dr. Anwar Hossain at a press conference held on April 18, 2026. The campaign will cover all nine upazilas, eight municipalities, 91 unions, 279 wards, 1,385 schools, and 1,480 madrasas, focusing on children aged six months to five years. A total of 2,241 vaccinators and 4,482 volunteers will participate in the drive.

According to the Civil Surgeon, the initiative follows a recent rise in suspected measles cases, with 273 suspected patients identified and 61 currently under treatment. Laboratory tests confirmed eight positive cases. The health department has mapped high-risk areas and strengthened surveillance, with local administration and media engaged to raise awareness. Parents have been urged to ensure timely vaccination and ignore misinformation.

Officials stated that no deaths from measles have been reported in the district so far, and most hospitalized patients are in stable condition. The campaign aims to ensure no child remains unvaccinated.

United Medical College Hospital, a flagship institution of United Healthcare, has introduced a special health service initiative for Hajj pilgrims to ensure their well-being. A dedicated health service center has been set up at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, offering free primary healthcare and essential medicines directly to pilgrims before their departure.

Located on 100 Feet Madani Avenue, the hospital’s initiative allows travelers to undergo health check-ups before boarding flights, helping to reduce health risks during the long journey. The service center will remain open 24 hours a day from April 18, the date of the first Hajj flight, until the last flight departs.

According to the organizers, the initiative reflects a commitment to making quality healthcare more accessible and ensuring the safety and wellness of pilgrims. They also expressed hope that similar programs will continue in the future to support travelers’ health needs.

Doctors in Khulna have expressed strong anger over the forced resignation of Dr. Rafiqul Haque Bablu, chairman of the trustee board of BNSB Eye Hospital. The incident occurred after a mob allegedly compelled him to step down. At a human chain event held on Saturday, April 18, in front of the BMA building at Satrasta intersection, the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) demanded his reinstatement by Tuesday, April 21, and action against local BNP leaders involved in the incident. They also called for an end to undue interference in the hospital’s trustee board, warning that doctors would begin a work stoppage, except for emergency services, if their demands were not met.

Speakers at the event said that on April 13, Khulna-5 MP Ali Asgar Lobi visited the hospital with several local BNP leaders, whose followers created chaos that led to Dr. Bablu’s resignation. They claimed that Dr. Bablu had taken administrative steps to curb irregularities at the hospital, which angered those benefiting from corruption and prompted the orchestrated incident.

The protest was chaired by Dr. Bablu himself and conducted by city DAB president Dr. Mostafa Kamal, with several central and local leaders addressing the gathering.

The Lakshmipur District Health Department has set a target to vaccinate 270,830 children against measles. The campaign will run from April 20 to May 10, 2026, covering 11 working days. The announcement was made by Civil Surgeon Dr. Abu Hasan Shahin during a briefing with journalists at the Civil Surgeon’s office on April 18. The vaccination will be administered to children aged six months to five years.

According to the district plan, 97,404 children will be vaccinated in Sadar upazila, 38,652 in Raipur, 44,997 in Ramganj, 35,500 in Kamalnagar, 36,974 in Ramgati, and 17,323 in Lakshmipur municipality. The campaign will be conducted across 1,584 centers with the participation of 183 supervisors, 200 vaccinators, and 400 volunteers.

Journalists, including the president of the Lakshmipur Press Club, attended the briefing session where the campaign details were shared.

Five children have died from measles and related symptoms across Bangladesh in the past 24 hours, with 1,278 new infections reported. Among the new cases, 127 were confirmed measles patients, while 1,115 were hospitalized with suspected symptoms. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) released these figures in a press statement on Friday, April 17, 2026.

According to the DGHS data, from March 15 to April 17, a total of 37 confirmed measles deaths and 174 suspected deaths have occurred nationwide. During the same period, 3,192 confirmed cases and 21,467 suspected cases were recorded, while 11,243 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. The highest number of suspected infections was reported in Dhaka Division, with 9,274 cases, including 1,965 confirmed infections.

The health authorities stated that continuous monitoring is underway through an integrated control center, which collects and analyzes data regularly. The DGHS has urged the public to remain alert and ensure timely medical care for affected children.

At a press briefing held on Wednesday at BIRDEM Hospital’s conference room, Professor Dr. A.K. Azad Khan, president of the Bangladesh Diabetic Association and former chairman of the Health Reform Commission, called on the government to supply insulin free of cost to Type-1 diabetes patients. He emphasized that these patients are entirely dependent on insulin for survival, comparing its necessity to oxygen and water.

Dr. Khan highlighted that the Bangladesh Diabetic Association, founded in 1956 by National Professor Mohammad Ibrahim, has expanded its services significantly over the decades. He stated that the association provides far more comprehensive care than similar organizations worldwide, which mostly focus on advocacy.

The event was attended by the association’s member secretary Muhammad Abu Taher Khan and national councillor Matiur Rahman Laltu. Dr. Khan reiterated that access to insulin is a fundamental right for citizens living with diabetes in Bangladesh.

National Professor Dr. A K Azad Khan, president of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh and former chairman of the Health Reform Commission, has called on the government to provide insulin free of cost to type-1 diabetes patients. Speaking at a press briefing on April 15 at BIRDEM Hospital in Dhaka, he said that insulin is essential for survival and that diabetic patients have the right to live. He emphasized that type-1 patients are the most vulnerable as they depend entirely on insulin.

Dr. Azad explained that diabetes has become a global epidemic, with developing countries experiencing faster growth rates than developed ones. The Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, founded in 1956 by National Professor Mohammad Ibrahim, now operates in 61 districts with 94 affiliated members. The association provides free services worth about Tk 1.19 billion annually, while the government contributes around Tk 300 million. He added that the organization is expanding services through mosque-based initiatives and cross-financing support.

He also noted that nearly 80 percent of diabetes cases can be prevented through lifestyle changes and physical activity, stressing the importance of early prevention and public awareness.

Md. Jasim Uddin from Shariatpur donated one of his kidneys to save his wife, Minara Begum, who had been suffering from kidney failure. The transplant was successfully performed on March 5 at Shyamoli CKD and Urology Hospital in Dhaka. Following the surgery, Minara has been recovering gradually and is now living in a rented house in Dhaka with her husband and son, under medical supervision.

According to family sources, Minara’s illness began two years ago with high blood pressure and other complications, eventually leading to kidney failure and a tumor. Her mother initially volunteered to donate a kidney but was found unfit due to heart disease. Facing financial hardship and emotional distress, Jasim decided to donate his own kidney. The couple, married since 2007, have one son who studies in Dhaka.

Local residents and officials, including the chairman of Kuchaipatti Union Parishad, praised Jasim’s decision as an extraordinary example of love and selflessness that has deeply moved the community.

Bangladesh is preparing to introduce mandatory health warnings on the front of packaged food products under the Safe Food (Packaged Food Labeling) Regulations 2026. The initiative was discussed at a media workshop in Dhaka organized by PROGGA with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator. Officials said the draft regulation will be finalized this month and sent to the Food Ministry for review before being forwarded to the Law Ministry for approval. Once enacted, the rule will take effect six months after official notification, requiring clear front-of-pack warnings similar to those on tobacco products.

Speakers explained that the Front-of-Package Labeling (FOPL) system aims to help consumers easily understand levels of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats in processed foods. They noted that 97 percent of Bangladeshis consume packaged foods weekly, but most cannot interpret complex nutrition data printed on the back. The FOPL model, already adopted in 44 countries, is designed to promote informed food choices and reduce health risks.

The workshop also highlighted rising consumption of ultra-processed foods and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh, including diabetes and hypertension, which contribute to 71 percent of annual deaths.

The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has announced a month-long measles and rubella vaccination campaign targeting 300,000 children aged six to 59 months. The campaign will begin on April 20 and continue until May 20 across health centers and hospitals in the city. Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain shared the details at a press conference held at the CCC Library Building near Laldighi, emphasizing the public health importance of protecting children from highly contagious diseases like measles.

To implement the program, the city’s 41 wards have been divided into seven zones, with vaccination running daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The CCC has formed 48 permanent and 205 temporary teams, along with 41 mop-up and 41 evening teams to reach missed children. Online registration using a 17-digit birth certificate is encouraged, but no child will be denied vaccination for lack of registration. Special focus will be placed on slum and high-risk areas.

The campaign is being conducted with support from the Directorate General of Health Services, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization. Mayor Hossain urged journalists, teachers, and community leaders to help ensure the success of the initiative.

Bangladesh’s health authorities have reported 166 child deaths and over 19,000 suspected measles cases in the past month, signaling a severe outbreak. The government has instructed hospitals to prepare isolation and ICU facilities, while a special vaccination campaign began on April 5 targeting children aged six months to five years. Health Minister Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bokul attributed the crisis to missed vaccination cycles and weaknesses in vaccine supply management.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that declining immunization rates have led to measles outbreaks in 57 countries in 2023, up from 36 the previous year. The Lancet reported that 2024 and 2025 saw the highest global measles outbreaks in two decades. Experts link the resurgence to disruptions in routine immunization during the COVID-19 pandemic and rising anti-vaccine sentiment in several countries.

WHO data show that while global measles cases and deaths fell sharply between 2000 and 2024, recent outbreaks threaten to reverse progress. Researchers are investigating whether new virus variants or reduced vaccine effectiveness are contributing factors, though no evidence has yet confirmed these possibilities.

Member of Parliament Rumin Farhana told the national parliament on Thursday, April 16, 2026, that the only hospital serving around 350,000 people in nine unions of Sarail upazila, Brahmanbaria, is in a dire state. She described the 50-bed facility as being like a patient itself, highlighting its inability to meet the community’s healthcare needs.

According to her statement, the hospital faces severe shortages of doctors, staff, medicines, and modern equipment. A plan had been taken to construct a new building at a cost of 10 crore taka, but the contractor fled after August 5, leaving the project incomplete. As a result, services continue in the old two-storey building, where 64 positions remain vacant.

Her remarks underscore ongoing infrastructure and staffing challenges in rural healthcare facilities, with no immediate resolution mentioned in the parliamentary discussion.

Experts have recommended raising tobacco product prices and introducing a specific tax system in Bangladesh’s upcoming 2026–27 national budget to reduce premature deaths and increase government revenue. The proposals were presented at a media workshop titled “Tobacco Tax and Price Measures: Budget 2026–27,” held on Sunday at the BMA building in Dhaka. The event was organized by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), with participation from 28 journalists.

According to the workshop, most cigarette users belong to low- and middle-income groups. Merging these tiers and raising prices would encourage low-income smokers to quit and discourage youth from starting. The experts proposed setting retail prices per 10-stick pack at 100 taka for the combined low and medium tier, 140–150 taka for the high tier, and 185–200 taka or more for the premium tier. They also recommended maintaining a 67 percent supplementary duty and adding a specific tax of four taka per pack.

If implemented, the measures could generate over 850 billion taka in revenue—about 440 billion more than the current fiscal year—and prevent more than 370,000 premature deaths, the workshop noted.