A major controversy has erupted in Bangladesh’s health sector over allegations of large-scale corruption involving a Tk 42,000 crore budget. Former chief adviser Muhammad Yunus has been named in a formal complaint submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission Bangladesh.
The complaint alleges that essential vaccines and syringes were not procured on time, despite the availability of sufficient funds, contributing to a deadly measles outbreak across the country.
The petition was filed in the public interest by Supreme Court lawyer Biplob Kumar Das, who also named former health adviser Nurjahan Begum in the complaint.
According to the petition, the deaths of more than a hundred children due to measles are not merely the result of a public health crisis, but also reflect serious administrative failures and alleged corruption within the health sector.
The petitioner questions how such a large budget allocation remained ineffective, arguing that the failure to purchase vaccines on time raises serious concerns about the misuse of public funds.
The complaint further alleges that sudden and poorly planned changes in vaccine procurement procedures created opportunities for financial irregularities and possible embezzlement.
Health experts and concerned citizens have expressed deep concern, describing the situation as a failure of governance and accountability at the highest levels.
The ongoing outbreak has heightened fears, with many children across the country reportedly at risk due to vaccine shortages.
The petition calls for an immediate and transparent investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission Bangladesh to determine whether public funds were misused and to hold those responsible accountable.
If a full investigation is launched, the case could become one of the largest corruption probes in Bangladesh’s health sector, with significant implications for public trust and healthcare governance.
