DHAKA, April 22, (V7N )– Prime Minister Tarique Rahman informed the Jatiya Sangsad on Wednesday that his administration has taken necessary measures to control the measles outbreak.

Responding to a supplementary question from opposition MP Salah Uddin Ahmed (Gazipur-4), the Prime Minister expressed sorrow over child deaths caused by measles, stating, "Many of our children have died... We are trying to control the situation in the coming days."

Calling the outbreak "very unfortunate," Tarique Rahman blamed both the previous "fascist regime" and the subsequent interim government for failing to import measles vaccines for several years. As a result, he said, the problem surfaced this year.

However, the Prime Minister noted that his government acted swiftly with support from UNICEF Bangladesh, which promptly supplied vaccines. "We will be able to vaccinate about 2 crore children," he added.

Acknowledging a shortage of testing kits, he said some kits have arrived and more are awaiting customs clearance. "One kit can be used for three tests. We are trying to release them soon." Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, presided over the session.

END/AJ/RH