HC writ seeks probe into Yunus, former advisers over measles vaccine policy

A writ petition has been filed with the High
Court seeking an investigation into the role of interim government's former
chief adviser Muhammad Yunus and other former advisers over allegations related
to the measles vaccination policy, alongside a request to impose travel bans on
24 individuals.
Supreme Court lawyer Barrister M Ashraful Islam
filed the writ today (17 May), alleging involvement in shifting the measles
vaccination procurement and funding system from the state sector to the private
sector.
The writ sought directives to form an
investigation committee and impose travel bans on all former members of the
advisory council, including Muhammad Yunus, until the investigation is
completed.
The cabinet secretary, health secretary, home
secretary, cabinet division secretary, public administration secretary,
director general of the Directorate General of Health Services, and other
relevant officials have been made respondents in the petition.
According to the petition, a legal notice had
earlier been sent on 6 April seeking an investigation into what it described as
"criminal activities" linked to transferring vaccination programmes,
including measles vaccination, from the state system to the private sector.
Plaintiff Ashraful claimed in the notice that a
severe outbreak of measles had spread across the country, with more than a
hundred children dying and many others receiving treatment in hospitals.
The notice also sought travel bans on several
former advisers and officials until completion of the investigation.
Those named include former advisers Asif Nazrul,
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adilur Rahman Khan, Nurjahan Begum, Brigadier (retd)
Sakhawat Hossain, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, along
with former chief adviser's press secretary Shafiqul Alam and former personal
assistants concerned.















