Legal Action Filed Against Yunus, Nur Jahan and Three Others Over Measles Deaths
The petition alleges that their actions deceived citizens and infringed upon fundamental rights.
A case has been filed against five individuals, including former chief adviser of the interim government Muhammad Yunus and former health adviser Nurjahan Begum, alleging negligence of duty and the deliberate failure to import measles vaccines in a timely manner, which reportedly led to child deaths during a measles outbreak.
The other accused are former Health and Family Welfare Secretary Md Sayedur Rahman, former special assistant to the chief adviser Prof Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, and former director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr Md Abu Zafar.
The complaint was lodged on Monday by Kishoreganj-5 MP Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal in the court of Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jasita Islam.
Court sources said the plaintiff’s statement was recorded and the matter was kept pending for further orders. The complainant’s lawyer, Advocate Golam Mostofa Khan, confirmed the development.
According to the lawyer, the complaint alleges that the previous administration intentionally failed to procure measles vaccines in an effort to create difficulties for the succeeding government and place it in a vulnerable position.
He also claimed that a representative of UNICEF Bangladesh has been named as a witness in the case and alleged that, despite repeated correspondence and requests, the then interim government failed to take the necessary measures. The complaint describes the deaths as “planned killings” and alleges that the actions were intended to undermine and discredit the government in the eyes of the public.
The petition claims that the alleged negligence and deliberate actions of the former chief adviser resulted in the deaths of hundreds of children across the country and exposed thousands more to risk. It characterises the incident as tantamount to homicide.
The complaint further alleges that the other accused, who held key positions in the health sector at the time, failed to fulfil their responsibilities and deliberately neglected to ensure the timely import of measles vaccines, amounting to punishable and inhumane conduct.
It also contends that their actions misled citizens and violated their fundamental rights.
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