Court Rejects Plea to Sue Yunus Over Measles

Dr Muhammad Yunus and Nur Jahan Begum. Photo: Collected

A Dhaka court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking permission to file a case against former Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, former Health Adviser Nur Jahan Begum and three other former officials over allegations related to child deaths caused by measles.

The petition was filed by Kishoreganj-5 lawmaker Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal before the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jasita Islam.

After recording the complainant’s statement and reviewing the matter, the court rejected the application.

Confirming the development, the complainant’s lawyer Md Salauddin Laskar said the petition sought to bring charges under Sections 420, 408, 304 and 34 of the Penal Code.

According to the lawyer, the court dismissed the application after considering issues linked to Section 409, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

“The court said the detailed reasons will be included in its written order. After receiving the order, we will decide whether to move a higher court,” he said.

Besides Yunus and Nur Jahan Begum, the petition also named former Health Services Secretary Md Saidur Rahman, former Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Sayedur Rahman and former Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Prof Dr Md Abu Jafar.

The complaint alleged that the accused failed to fulfil their responsibilities and delayed the import of measles vaccines, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of children and exposing thousands more to health risks.

The petition further claimed that the alleged inaction represented a serious breach of public trust and citizens’ rights.