Bangladeshi Commerce Secretary Dies from Malaria Reportedly Contracted in Yaounde

The Commerce Secretary of Bangladesh has died from cerebral malaria, according to multiple media sources in the country. According to reports by Views Bangladesh and The Business Standard, Mahbubur Rahman was diagnosed with malaria shortly after attending the World Trade Organization (WTO) Summit in Yaounde from March 26 to 29.
“He fell seriously ill just 13 days after returning home (April 11). He was admitted to the capital’s Square Hospital on April 13 due to a rapid decrease in blood platelets” Views Bangladesh reported.
Quoting an epidemiologist with Bangladesh’s malaria elimination programme, The Business Standard reported that “After learning that the secretary had been infected with malaria, we made every possible effort to treat him. But the malaria parasite in Africa is extremely strong and different. As a result, he could not be saved”.
Secretary Rahman’s wife is quoted as saying that prior to attending the WTO meetings in Cameroon, her husband was not informed by his ministry that Cameroon is a high-risk country for malaria. Rahman died from cerebral malaria – the deadliest form of the disease marked by seizures, high fevers, a coma and even death within 48 hours. He was 58 years old.
Reacting to the news of Rahman’s passing, Cameroon’s Health Minister, Manouda Malachie wrote on X that “I have become aware, with great disappointment, of the content of a post by a compatriot from the diaspora who claims that Cameroon did not communicate sufficiently about the malaria situation, particularly to foreign participants at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference”.
Malachie did not specifically refer to Mahbubur Rahman by name, but added that “Contrary to these assertions, and while expressing my deep emotion as well as my sincere condolences following the death of a senior Bangladeshi official after returning from the WTO’s MC14, I would like to recall that rigorous health measures had been put in place by Cameroon during this event”.
While there is treatment available for malaria, the disease can be deadly if left untreated. It remains one of the deadliest diseases in Cameroon. The US-based Centers for Disease Control (CDC) list Cameroon under the ‘High Risk of Malaria’ category. Cerebral is caused by the parasite Plasmodium Falciparum, which blocks blood flow in the small blood vessels of the brain.