High Court questions ‘inactivity’ on smuggling of life-saving medicine, manufacturing of spurious drugs

The High Court has questioned the ‘inactivity’ of relevant authorities to prevent smuggling of life-saving medicine and manufacturing of spurious drugs.

Tuesday’s development came after the ‘Social and Environment Change’ moved the court after media reports claimed used needle, syringe and low-quality surgical equipment were flooding Bangladesh’s market.

Justices Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Abu Taher Md. Saifur Rahman issued the ruling after a preliminary hearing on the plea.

The health secretary, the director general and the director of Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) will have to reply within four weeks as to why their ‘inactivity’ would not be declared illegal.

Jahurul Islam, who represented the plaintiff, told bdnews24.com: “Newspapers have run reports on the issue.

“But the relevant authorities did not take any step, endangering public health.”

That was why, he said, they challenged the defendants’ indifference towards the influx of low-grade medical equipment.