Dhaka, Sept. 26 -- A nationwide special vaccination campaign has begun as Bangladesh steps up efforts to contain the measles outbreak.

Inaugurating the campaign at the TNT playground in Dhaka's Korail on Saturday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said the government aims to vaccinate 3.4 million children, including 2.4 million who previously missed out.

"Our target is 3.4 million children nationwide," the health minister said. "This includes 1 million infants who recently reached the six-month mark and 2.4 million missed children."

The drive, titled the "Intensified MR Catch-up Vaccination", will run through Oct 31.

Earlier vaccination rounds beginning in April covered 18.5 million children. Subsequent Vita...