Bangladesh

Bangladesh reports 1,210 measles-related cases, five deaths

The DGHS said five deaths were among patients with measles symptoms, while none was confirmed as measles in the latest 24-hour period.

ScrollBeat DeskPublished: 16 Oct 2026, 16:59Updated: 16 Oct 2026, 17:02

Conceptual illustration of a stylized virus form beside an unlabelled vaccine vial. AI-generated; it does not depict a real patient, hospital or vaccination event. — Conceptual illustration of a stylized virus form beside a generic vaccine vial. AI-generated; it is not a photograph and does not depict a patient, hospital or specific vaccination event. ScrollBeat illustration, generated with OpenAI image generation

Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) recorded 1,210 people with measles or measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. on Oct. 16, according to the agency’s daily bulletin cited by Bangla Tribune. The total included 46 laboratory-confirmed measles cases and 1,164 suspected cases.

The bulletin recorded five deaths among people with measles symptoms during that period. It reported no deaths confirmed as measles in the same 24 hours, keeping symptom-linked deaths separate from confirmed measles fatalities.

From March 15 to Oct. 16, the DGHS counted 1,186 deaths among people with confirmed measles or measles-like symptoms: 1,082 symptom-linked deaths and 104 following confirmed infection, Bangla Tribune reported.

The same bulletin listed 211,040 people with measles-like symptoms since March 15, including 22,972 confirmed infections. It recorded 187,615 hospital admissions and 180,002 discharges over that period.

Sources & further reading

Bangla Tribune report citing the DGHS health bulletin, 16 October 2026

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NEXT STORY Bangladesh

Malaysia agrees in principle to 10,000 zero-cost Bangladeshi hires

The government says recruitment will run through 338 agencies; the approved medical-centre list is still being finalised.

ScrollBeat Desk16 Oct 2026, 17:41Open this article

At Dhaka airport in November 2025, then-adviser Asif Nazrul addresses a reception for workers departing for Malaysia. — File photo: Bangladesh adviser Asif Nazrul speaks at a 25 November 2025 reception for workers departing for Malaysia at Dhaka airport. This is not a photo of the newly announced 10,000-worker recruitment. Press Information Department, Bangladesh / Wikimedia Commons (public domain in Bangladesh)

Bangladesh says recruitment of workers for Malaysia has restarted through 338 approved agencies, while Malaysia has agreed in principle to recruit 10,000 Bangladeshis at zero cost, according to a Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment statement reported on Thursday.

The group comprises the state-run Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL), 25 private processing or service agencies and 312 recruiting agencies. Under the announced process, recruiting agencies may find Malaysian employers, collect job demand letters and select workers. BOESL and the 25 service agencies will help with administrative steps, including calling visas and e-visas, the ministry said.

Recruiting agencies will then seek Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training clearance for selected workers under their own licences. The government has said the 10,000 positions will be zero-cost, but its latest announcement does not give a timetable or individual application criteria.

One step is still pending: the ministry said Bangladesh and Malaysia are finalising the list of medical centres authorised to conduct health checks. The ministry’s statement said final approval of a revised list is expected after a joint Malaysian delegation inspects centres in Bangladesh.

The announcement sets out a broader route for recruitment, but prospective workers should wait for official instructions on the specific jobs, selection dates and authorised medical centres. The 10,000-worker commitment was described as an agreement in principle.

Sources & further reading

Malaysia begins recruiting process of Bangladeshi workers thru 338 agencies: Expat ministry — The Business Standard, 15 October 2026 Recruitment process of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia begins, 338 agencies listed — Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, 15 October 2026 Zero-cost Malaysia jobs for 10,000 workers — The Daily Star, 5 October 2026

NEXT STORY Bangladesh

Sajek reopens to tourists through 21 October after four-day closure

The Rangamati administration has reopened the valley for Durga Puja; a resort owners’ association says about 800 visitors arrived on Friday.

ScrollBeat Desk16 Oct 2026, 17:37Open this article

At dawn, a lone tree rises from Sajek Valley’s mist-covered hills; file photograph from 5 December 2016. — File photograph: Sajek Valley at dawn on 5 December 2016. It does not depict the October 2026 reopening or arriving tourists. G'son Biswas / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Tourists can visit Sajek Valley in Rangamati from 16 to 21 October after the district administration lifted a four-day restriction for the Durga Puja period, according to the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

A Dhaka Tribune report credited to United News of Bangladesh (UNB) said around 800 tourists entered Sajek on Friday, the first day after reopening. Suparna Deb Barman, president of the Sajek Cottage-Resort Owners’ Association, gave the estimate. The report said resorts, restaurants and transport services had resumed activity.

The Rangamati administration first suspended tourist entry on 11 October, citing security concerns. BSS reported that the Sajek Karbari Association and the Sajek Public Rights Protection Committee had called an indefinite road blockade, which they later suspended after talks with the administration.

The latest notice allows visits through 21 October. Travellers planning to go after that date should check for a further announcement before setting out.

Sources & further reading

All tourist spots in Sajek Valley reopened for tourists — Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, 15 October 2026 Sajek Valley travel ban lifted, tourists allowed from 16 Oct — The Business Standard, 15 October 2026 Sajek reopens to tourists after four days; 800 flock to popular destination — UNB, published by Dhaka Tribune, 16 October 2026