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Published : 13 Aug 2025, 08:59 PM
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has warned that the government’s “opaque and one-sided policies and directives” are creating crises in the pharmaceutical sector.
In a statement on Wednesday, Fakhrul said: “Recently, some opaque, unilateral directives and inaction by the government have created special risks in this potentially vital industry.”
He highlighted that government-appointed bodies, including the Drug Control Committee (DCC), the Essential Medicines Task Force, and DCC’s technical subcommittees, lack representation from the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI).
Fakhrul stressed that “policy-making, regulation, and development in the pharmaceutical sector must be transparent, participatory, and reflect professionals’ input. Joint solutions with BAPI and all stakeholders will best serve national interests.”
He criticised committees formed without industry participation and called for proactive decisions ahead of Bangladesh’s LDC graduation, describing the sector as a strategic national asset.
The BNP leader noted that no new drug registrations have been issued for nearly two years, and price adjustments have been delayed, putting Bangladesh at risk of losing TRIPS exemptions. He urged swift registration of new drugs ahead of the country’s projected middle-income status in November 2026.
Fakhrul also highlighted the industry’s economic and health significance, noting that nearly 100 percent of domestic demand is met locally, while Bangladeshi drugs are exported to over 160 countries, including the US, Europe, Canada, and Australia. He added that the sector now has API production capability.
Citing previous BNP administrations, he credited past measures -- such as pricing policy in 1994, updated national drug policy in 2002, strengthening drug authorities in 2003, leveraging TRIPS exemptions, promoting generics and exports, and investing in research -- for positive growth in the pharmaceutical industry.
