Inside a cramped vehicle, under dim light and rising anxiety, little Abir lies in his family’s arms—his small body weakened, his breathing uncertain.
Around him, worried faces lean in, adjusting an oxygen mask, whispering reassurances that barely conceal their fear.
For Abir’s family, the journey from Tangail to Dhaka was long and exhausting.
Abir was first taken for treatment in Tangail. But as his condition worsened, doctors advised an urgent transfer to the capital.
He was brought to Bangladesh Shishu Hospital in the capital on Monday. What followed was a night of waiting—hours stretching into dawn—with no ICU bed available.
By early afternoon today, with options running out, his family moved him again—this time to a private facility in the hope of securing critical care.
Abir is not alone.
Across Bangladesh, a worrying surge in measles infections is putting immense pressure on an already stretched healthcare system.
The country on Monday recorded 17 deaths from measles and similar symptoms, the highest single-day toll since the outbreak of the highly contagious but preventable disease in March this year.
At the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, the country’s largest specialised facility for children, the situation is becoming increasingly dire. Every day, families from distant districts arrive with children suffering from high fever, persistent cough, and rashes—classic symptoms of measles.
For many children like Abir, intensive care is not just necessary—it is urgent. Yet ICU beds remain painfully limited.