Bangladesh’s Awami League party has accused the former Muhammad Yunus-led interim government of gross negligence and policy failures, leading to a measles outbreak claiming over 500 lives. The party claims that the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) confirmed this crisis resulted from deliberate negligence and destruction under Yunus’ tenure.
The UN agency had warned the interim government about vaccine shortages that could spark a major health crisis, emphasizing that the decision to split vaccine purchases between UNICEF and an open tender process caused delays in procurement. Despite opposition from UNICEF, the government proceeded, resulting in stalled immunization programs and vaccine stockouts.
The Awami League highlighted public health experts’ concerns that the revised procurement system would cause delays in vaccine delivery and trigger a large-scale measles outbreak. The party accused the Yunus government of intentional failure in securing vaccines, leading to bureaucratic complications and collapsed immunization programs.
According to the Awami League, lawmakers in the national parliament who supported Pakistan during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War are prioritizing Pakistan’s interests over Bangladesh’s welfare. The party also criticized the Yunus government for signing a trade agreement with the United States, claiming it was detrimental to Bangladesh’s national interests and suspiciously timed before the recent election.
