DHAKA, Aug 23, 2026 (BSS) - A preventive oral cholera vaccination campaign has begun in high-risk areas of the country to protect the public health from cholera.

The first round of the campaign began on last Saturday while the second round is scheduled to start on September 26, official sources said here today.

In this connection, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) issued instructions on August 18 asking the education officials and their heads to take necessary measures to support the programme.

In a letter signed by DSHE Director (Secondary) Professor Md. Sakhawat Hossain Khan, educational institutions in Dhaka, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Brahmanbaria and Kishoreganj were asked to cooperate with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in implementing the campaign.

Under the campaign, vaccination will be provided in Gandaria, Kadamtali, Lalbagh, Kamrangirchar, Khilkhet, Tejgaon and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station areas under Dhaka North and South City Corporations.

The campaign will also cover people aged one year and above in Munshiganj Sadar, Narayanganj Sadar, Brahmanbaria Sadar and Nabinagar upazila, as well as Karimganj, Tarail and Hossainpur upazilas of Kishoreganj district. However, the pregnant women are not included in the campaign.

The DSHE directive said upazila and thana secondary education officers and head teachers would assist health officials in implementing the programme. They have also been asked to raise awareness among the students and parents about receiving the vaccine.

Necessary arrangements have been requested to ensure students receive the vaccine, complete registration and serve as volunteers at vaccination centres.

Assigned teachers will assist the students in registering on the designated website using their birth registration numbers. If any student is unable to register independently, teachers from the institution's ICT department will provide assistance.
The relevant education officials have also been instructed to monitor the vaccination activities conducted at schools and colleges on a random basis.

The DSHE directed all educational institutions to extend the necessary cooperation to ensure the success of the campaign.