Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported that 5,792 suspected measles cases and 94 deaths occurred nationwide over the past 19 days. The latest update, released Friday, stated that between April 2 and April 3 morning, 947 new suspected cases were identified. Of the total suspected cases, 771 have been confirmed as measles infections, and nine deaths have been officially verified as caused by the disease.

According to the DGHS, Cox’s Bazar district in Chattogram Division recorded the highest death rate. The agency also clarified that five previously reported deaths—three from Brahmanbaria, one from Lakshmipur, and one from Chandpur—were excluded from the national tally due to reporting errors. One death from Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital has now been included in the official count.

Dhaka Division has the highest number of confirmed infections. Since March 15, a total of 3,776 patients with measles symptoms have been hospitalized, of whom 2,527 have recovered and been discharged.

BNP Standing Committee member and Prime Minister’s adviser Mirza Abbas has been transferred from the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) to a cabin at Singapore General Hospital. The development was confirmed on Friday, April 3, by BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan. Abbas had been taken to Singapore by air ambulance on March 15 and admitted to the hospital the same day. After spending about 18 days in the CCU, he was moved to a cabin early Friday morning.

According to medical advice, Mirza Abbas is now able to speak a little with others, and his physical condition has improved compared to before. The update indicates gradual recovery following weeks of intensive care in Singapore.

Further details about his treatment or expected discharge have not been disclosed in the report.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in Bangladesh has cancelled all types of leave for doctors, officers, employees, and health workers at government health institutions. The directive, issued on Thursday by the DGHS administration branch, comes in response to a growing outbreak of measles-related pneumonia among children across the country.

According to the office order, both earned and casual leaves are suspended until further notice. The decision aims to ensure uninterrupted medical services during the emergency and to strengthen the ongoing measles vaccination campaign. The suspension applies to all officials and staff under the DGHS and its affiliated institutions.

The move reflects the government’s effort to mobilize the entire public health workforce to contain the outbreak and maintain continuous healthcare delivery during the crisis.

Health officials in Bangladesh have attributed the alarming rise in measles cases to the failure of Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s interim government to implement the national immunization program. They said the government failed to conduct the scheduled national vaccination campaign in 2024 and 2025, disrupted routine immunization due to health workers’ protests, and canceled 17 operational plans, all of which worsened the outbreak. According to the Directorate General of Health Services, between March 15 and April 2, 3,709 children were hospitalized with measles symptoms, 585 were confirmed cases, and at least 13 children died.

Officials explained that measles vaccines are usually administered through regular programs and national campaigns, but both systems broke down under the interim administration. Only 59 percent of children received vaccines, far below the 92 percent coverage needed to control the disease. Attempts to reach former health officials for comment were unsuccessful.

At a roundtable in Dhaka, participants demanded legal action against those responsible if procurement issues contributed to the outbreak. Experts and policymakers urged stronger oversight of vaccination programs and cautioned health workers to avoid public suffering during future protests.

A protest meeting organized by Young Women for Development Rights and Climate (YWDRC) and five other organizations expressed deep concern over the recent deterioration of Bangladesh’s child immunization program. The meeting, held on Thursday, highlighted that nearly 400,000 children missed full vaccination and about 70,000 received none due to government negligence, vaccine supply disruptions, shortage of field health workers, reduced international support, and limited access for marginalized communities.

Speakers warned of the resurgence of preventable diseases such as measles and a rising risk of child mortality. Research cited at the meeting indicated that a functioning immunization program could save around 94,000 children annually, a goal now under threat. The keynote was presented by YWDRC Executive Chairman Sultana Nusrat Afroze, with representatives from several partner organizations also addressing the event.

The participants issued six demands to the government, including increased budget allocation, improved vaccine supply and cold chain systems, recruitment and training of health workers, special vaccination campaigns in remote areas, awareness drives to counter misinformation, and stronger coordination with international partners.

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking an order to close schools until the current measles outbreak subsides. The petition also calls for the formation of a high-level investigation committee to examine the deaths of 47 children reportedly caused by the disease. The petition was filed on Thursday, April 2, 2026, by lawyer Latif Jahan Purnima, naming the Family Welfare Division of the Ministry of Health and other relevant government authorities as respondents.

The petition requests the court to direct the authorities to submit a comprehensive report detailing the number of deaths, infection rates, vaccination coverage, vaccine availability, and measures taken to control the outbreak. It further seeks an order for a full, independent, and time-bound investigation to identify reasons behind failures in vaccination coverage, vaccine shortages, and delays in preventive actions.

If accepted, the court’s decision could lead to temporary school closures and a formal inquiry into the country’s public health response to the measles situation.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain stated that the recent measles outbreak struck suddenly, comparing it to a lightning strike and admitting that authorities were unprepared. He made the remarks to journalists on Thursday around 11:15 a.m.

The minister’s comment highlights the unexpected nature of the outbreak and the lack of prior readiness to handle it. No further details about the scale of the outbreak, affected regions, or government response measures were provided in the initial report.

Further information is expected as the situation develops, according to the source.

A joint mobile court operation was conducted in Chowmuhani of Begumganj upazila, Noakhali, targeting three private hospitals. The drive took place on Tuesday afternoon and continued until evening. Two hospitals were fined for operating without valid licenses, while one was sealed for engaging in non-healthcare-related activities. The operation was confirmed by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Shahadat Hossain.

The mobile court was led by Executive Magistrate Kawsari Akter, Civil Surgeon Anwar Hossain, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shahadat Hossain, Executive Magistrate Mohammad Sadat Hossain, and Begumganj Upazila Health Officer Khabir Uddin Chowdhury. A total fine of Tk 175,000 was imposed across three cases. Dream Hospital was fined Tk 25,000, Holy Care Hospital Tk 100,000, and Eden Hospital Tk 50,000, with Eden Hospital also sealed.

Authorities instructed the hospital managements to obtain valid documentation from the district civil surgeon before resuming healthcare services.

Bangladesh is launching an emergency vaccination program after a sharp rise in measles cases nationwide. In the past 15 days, 423 children have been infected and 10 have died. Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced that from Sunday, children aged six months to ten years will receive measles vaccines. All health workers’ leave has been canceled, and vaccines and syringes are being distributed nationwide by Thursday and Friday. Hospitals have been instructed to prepare ventilators and beds for patients.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, 2,314 children were hospitalized with measles-like symptoms in the last 15 days. Rajshahi, Chattogram, Rangpur, and Cumilla have reported rising infections, with hospitals facing shortages of ICU beds and testing equipment. In Rajshahi, four children have died, while Chattogram has seen 55 children under treatment. In Rangpur, lack of testing machines is delaying diagnosis.

Human rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer Eklas Uddin Bhuiyan has issued a legal notice demanding vaccine supply within 24 hours, warning of a High Court petition if the government fails to act swiftly.

A child infected with measles has died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RAMEC) while under treatment in the intensive care unit on Tuesday night. The child was from Pangsha in Rajbari district. This brings the total number of measles-related deaths at the hospital to four. According to hospital spokesperson Dr. Shankar K. Biswas, 22 new children were admitted with measles symptoms in the past 24 hours until Wednesday noon, while 14 were discharged after recovery. Currently, 117 children are receiving treatment for measles or related symptoms, including 12 in the ICU, and 56 more are waiting for ICU care.

Dr. Biswas said most admitted patients are from Chapainawabganj, with others from Rajshahi, Pabna, Naogaon, Kushtia, and Rajbari. Most affected children are under two years old, and 65 percent were infected before reaching vaccination age. A special medical team is working continuously, and a 40-bed measles isolation ward has been opened. Plans are underway to convert an entire pediatric ward into an isolation unit if patient numbers continue to rise.

The hospital is also preparing to add seven more ICU beds for measles patients and transfer some to the Rajshahi Heart Foundation Hospital as directed by the health secretary.

A new treatment approach called Mitral Valve Clipping, technically known as Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER), is transforming care for patients with mitral regurgitation, according to a report published on April 1, 2026. The condition occurs when the mitral valve fails to close properly, causing blood to flow backward into the left atrium and leading to complications such as heart failure and irregular heartbeat. Traditionally, open-heart surgery was the main treatment, but many patients, especially the elderly or those with other organ complications, were not suitable candidates.

The TEER procedure, using Abbott Laboratories’ MitraClip device, allows doctors to repair the valve without opening the chest or stopping the heart. A catheter is inserted through the femoral vein to deliver a clip that joins the valve’s leaflets, reducing backward blood flow. Studies, including the COAPT Trial, have shown that this method lowers hospitalizations and mortality while improving quality of life. Based on these findings, major cardiology societies have recognized TEER as an important treatment option.

However, the method is not suitable for all patients, particularly those with severe valve calcification, enlarged ventricles, or active infections, making expert evaluation essential.

Health authorities in Chattogram reported a sharp rise in children showing measles symptoms, with most of the affected being unvaccinated. Over the past 84 hours, 26 new children were admitted to various hospitals, bringing the total number of patients under treatment to 55. Among them, seven have been confirmed with measles and one with rubella. A five-and-a-half-month-old child from Cox’s Bazar, admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, died in the ICU, though confirmation of measles as the cause awaits lab results.

According to the Civil Surgeon’s Office, 91 samples have been sent to the National Polio and Measles-Rubella Laboratory in Dhaka for testing. Data from Chattogram Medical College Hospital show that only three of the 33 admitted children received two vaccine doses, nine received one dose, and 21 were unvaccinated. Most of the unvaccinated are under nine months old. Health experts emphasized the need for full participation in routine immunization programs to prevent wider outbreaks.

Officials warned that without improved vaccination coverage, the current rise in infections could escalate further in the coming months.

Leading anti-tobacco organizations have expressed deep concern over the government’s decision to remove provisions banning e-cigarettes and the display of tobacco products at points of sale from the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2025. In a statement issued Wednesday, they warned that such changes could undermine public health and encourage nicotine addiction among youth.

The organizations stated that emerging tobacco products like e-cigarettes are highly harmful and act as gateways to nicotine dependence. They argued that allowing product displays at sales points would attract children and adolescents to tobacco use, reversing progress in tobacco control. The groups also noted that the removal of these clauses contradicts the ruling party’s electoral commitment to strengthen tobacco regulation.

Former interim government adviser and economist Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman called on the government and parliament to immediately reinstate the two clauses, emphasizing that public health and youth protection must take precedence over narrow profit interests.

The government of Bangladesh will begin a measles vaccination campaign at the upazila level from Sunday, April 5, in response to a worsening outbreak across the country. Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain announced the initiative at a press conference in Dhaka on April 1, stating that vaccinations will start first in the most affected areas. Vaccines will reach those regions within two days, and all health workers’ leave has been canceled to ensure full participation.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, measles has spread rapidly in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Pabna, Barishal, and Mymensingh, with more than 700 infections and over 50 deaths reported. Public health experts have urged immediate government action, warning that a single patient can transmit the disease to 16–18 others if left unchecked.

Bangladesh’s routine immunization program provides two doses of the measles vaccine to children at nine and fifteen months of age through about 120,000 vaccination centers. The last national measles campaign was conducted in December 2020.

The government has decided to open the Rajshahi Children’s Hospital, which has remained unused for three years since its construction was completed. Health Services Division Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury announced during a visit to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital that the facility will begin partial operations within three months. Initially, only outpatient services will start, with other departments expected to open in the next fiscal year.

Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services, Professor Dr. Prabhat Chandra Biswas, also visited the site and mentioned plans to activate other completed but idle health infrastructures, including the district and chest hospitals. Construction of the 200-bed children’s hospital began about eight years ago at Bandhgate in Rajshahi at a cost of Tk 35 crore. Despite completion three years ago, it remained closed due to delays in government handover, leading to theft of equipment.

The hospital includes 12 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) beds. The decision to open it followed reports of child deaths while waiting for NICU care. Overcrowding at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital’s pediatric ward, which admits up to 700 patients against 200 beds, has intensified the need for the new facility.