Speaker Blames Interim Government for Measles Outbreak
Collected Photo
National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has blamed the interim government for the rise in measles outbreaks in Bangladesh. He said many children died prematurely because the government failed to import measles vaccines on time.
He made the remarks on Tuesday (May 26) in response to journalists’ questions at the Bhola Circuit House in the afternoon. He stopped there while en route to his constituency in Lalmohan during a four-day Eid visit to Bhola.
Commenting on the measles situation, the Speaker said the authorities did not feel the urgency to import vaccines on time, which led to the premature deaths of a significant number of children. He described the situation as deeply tragic.
However, he also praised the current government’s initiatives to tackle measles. He said the current health minister has been visiting hospitals regularly and has taken steps to import vaccines, expressing hope that the situation will improve soon.
The Speaker also addressed the gas and electricity crisis in Bhola. He said the district has substantial gas reserves, yet power shortages have emerged due to gas supply constraints, which he described as very unfortunate.
He further said he had learned that a 30-megawatt power plant had been shut down due to technical faults. He added that he would look into the matter and discuss it with the power minister after returning to Dhaka following the Eid holidays, in order to bring the plant back into operation quickly.
Regarding load shedding, he said he would discuss with the power minister and take necessary steps to ensure that residents of Bhola no longer suffer from power outages.
On the upcoming 2026-27 national budget, the Speaker said the ruling party would present the budget while the opposition would criticize it. He said the government would welcome constructive criticism and ensure that the opposition receives sufficient time to perform its duties.
He further said he had observed cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties in the previous parliament and hoped that such cooperation would continue. He added that both sides would work together to present a budget that improves public convenience.
Bhola Deputy Commissioner Dr. Shamin Rahman, District Council Administrator Golam Nabi Alamgir, Superintendent of Police Md. Shahidullah Kawsar, and other local administration officials were present at the event.
