The Socialist Students Front on Tuesday demanded that the government immediately declare the ongoing measles outbreak in Bangladesh a “public health emergency,” ensure free treatment and ICU services for affected children, and substantially increase budget allocations for education and health sectors ahead of the 2026–27 national budget.

At a press conference held at Madhur Canteen of the University of Dhaka, leaders of the organization also launched a scathing attack on the recently signed Reciprocal Trade Agreement (RTA) with the United States, calling it an “anti-national” and “subservient” deal that threatens Bangladesh’s sovereignty, healthcare, agriculture, and education systems.

Reading out the written statement, Socialist Students Front Central President Mukta Barai said the government must urgently address the worsening measles situation by guaranteeing free treatment in both public and private hospitals and ensuring free ICU facilities for children. 

The organization also demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible for alleged negligence and mismanagement in the national vaccination program.

The student leaders warned that while allocations for “unproductive sectors” like the military continue to rise, education spending has steadily declined over the decades. 

Citing budget data, they said the first national budget in 1972 allocated 22 percent to education, whereas the current allocation stands at only 12.11 percent despite a massive increase in overall budget size.

The organization reiterated its long-standing demand for allocating 25 percent of the national budget or 6 percent of GDP to education, in line with UNESCO recommendations. It also called for increased spending in the health sector.

A major portion of the press conference focused on criticism of the US-Bangladesh RTA signed on February 9, 2026. The student body alleged that the agreement overwhelmingly favors the United States, pointing out that the phrase “Bangladesh Shall” appears 158 times in the 32-page document, compared to only nine instances of “USA Shall.”

According to the organization, the agreement would bind Bangladesh to multiple international intellectual property treaties, including WIPO and UPOV conventions, potentially undermining farmers’ rights over indigenous seeds and sharply increasing medicine prices through stricter patent laws.

The group warned that insulin, cancer, and heart disease medicines could become unaffordable due to patent fees and royalties imposed under the agreement. 

It also claimed that opening the higher education sector to foreign corporate universities would turn education into a “luxury commodity” beyond the reach of working-class families.

Among those present at the press conference were Vice President Susmita Mariam, General Secretary Raihan Uddin, Organizing Secretary Suhail Ahmed Shuvo, and several Dhaka University and city unit leaders.

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