Petition seeks Tk 2cr for each family of 352 children who died from measles, symptoms

A writ petition was filed today with the High Court seeking directives to provide Tk 2 crore in compensation to each family of the 352 children who died from measles and measles-like symptoms.

Supreme Court lawyers Barrister Mohammad Humaun Kabir Pallob, Barrister Mohammad Kawsar and Md Maksudur Rahman submitted the petition as a public interest litigation on behalf of human rights organisation Law and Life Foundation Trust.

The petition also sought a High Court order to establish specialised measles treatment units equipped with ICU, PICU and necessary diagnostic facilities at every district hospital and upazila health complex across the country.

In addition, the writ petitioner sought the formation of a 10-member investigation committee comprising representatives from the World Health Organization, Unicef and the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

The petition further prayed for a court directive asking the authorities to submit, within seven days, an affidavit detailing the current status of the stock, preservation and supply system of vaccines for measles as well as rabies across the country.

The respondents in the petition include the secretaries to the Health Services Division and the home ministry, the director general of the Directorate General of Health Services, and the director of IEDCR.

The writ petition was submitted before the High Court bench of Justice Rajik Al Jalil and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury with the court’s permission.