The service is expected to go live within the next 48 hours, enabling critically ill children to receive advanced treatment locally within their districts rather than being rushed to the capital.
Hospitals Selected for the Emergency Rollout
The pediatric ventilators are being integrated into the following 10 facilities:
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250-bed General Hospitals in Tangail, Sunamganj, Gopalganj, and Jashore.
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Sadar Hospitals in Madaripur, Bagerhat, and Chuadanga.
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General Hospitals in Munshiganj and Narayanganj.
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Sherpur District Hospital.
Previously, a lack of pediatric ICU facilities in these districts forced families to transport critically ill children to Dhaka.
This journey often exacerbated the patients’ conditions and caused severe overcrowding at central hospitals in the capital, overwhelming doctors and healthcare staff.
Daily Casualties and Rising Trends
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 11 more children died of measles and measles-related symptoms in the 24 hours leading up to Tuesday morning. Of these, two deaths were officially confirmed as measles, while nine were symptomatic cases.
Current Situation: Since March 15, the death toll from measles and suspected measles symptoms in Bangladesh has climbed to 475, with 77 cases fully confirmed through laboratory testing.
Currently, 74 government hospitals across 42 districts house a total of 1,372 ICU beds, leaving 22 districts completely devoid of ICU facilities. Furthermore, 758 of these beds (over 55%) are concentrated in Dhaka alone.
While World Bank-funded projects set up 240 ICU beds across 22 districts between 2020 and 2024, they lacked pediatric ventilator support until now.
Government Interventions and Healthcare Security
Speaking at an equipment handover ceremony organized by the Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD), Health and Family Welfare Minister Sarder Sakhawat Hossain Bokul assured that the ventilators would be operational almost immediately, with an official inauguration scheduled one week after the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha.
In response to recent assaults on medical professionals, the Minister also announced plans to pilot a Central Emergency Alarm System (locally referred to as a Pagla Ghanta) at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.
If a doctor or patient faces any security threat, the alarm will alert security personnel and nearby staff. Additionally, a new police outpost is being planned for the Mohakhali health zone to safeguard the numerous healthcare institutions located there.
Post-Eid Vaccination Campaign
Minister Sarder Sakhawat Hossain also confirmed that the second phase of the nationwide measles vaccination campaign will kick off shortly after Eid-ul-Adha. Addressing reports of a slight syringe shortage, he noted that the monthly deficit would be resolved within days.
He strongly dismissed ongoing rumors surrounding the vaccine, emphasizing that health workers are conducting successful door-to-door immunization drives.
Latest Epidemic Data at a Glance
| Region/Metric | 24-Hour Statistics |
| New Suspected Cases | 1,264 cases (Highest: Dhaka 544, Chattogram 230, Barishal 147) |
| Confirmed Measles Cases | 73 cases (Highest: Dhaka 54) |
| Hospital Admissions / Discharges | 1,115 admitted / 1,110 discharged |
| Recent Deaths (11 total) | Dhaka (3), Sylhet (3), Moulvibazar (2), Chattogram (1), Mymensingh (1), Khulna (1) |
Special Directives for Government and Private Hospitals
To curb transmission, the DGHS has issued strict containment directives:
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Isolation Wards: All public and private hospitals must set up separate isolation wards or cabins for suspected and confirmed measles patients.
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Free Beds for the Underprivileged: Private medical and dental colleges must allocate 5% of their total beds (from the mandatory 10% free bed quota) specifically for underprivileged measles patients.
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Specialist Rounds & Reporting: Public hospitals must ensure adequate staffing in isolation units, with senior specialists conducting mandatory morning and evening rounds. Patient details must be uploaded daily to the Management Information System (MIS) server.
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Visitor Restrictions: To mitigate cross-contamination, only one visitor per patient is permitted inside the hospital premises.
24-Hour Emergency Care During Eid Holidays
An 18-point guideline has been issued to maintain uninterrupted medical services during the Eid-ul-Adha holidays. Emergency departments, labor rooms, ICUs, laboratories, ambulance services, and measles isolation wards must remain functional 24/7.
The DGHS has stressed that under no circumstances should ambulance services be suspended, and hospitals must provide necessary primary stabilization before transferring patients to reduce unnecessary referrals to the capital.