Counterfeit and banned medicines have long been flooding at most of the pharmacies throughout the country pushing the people near to death risk. Some unscrupulous pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy owners are responsible for trading these illegal and fake medicines.  

The law enforcement agencies are arresting these criminals regularly. But they are doing the same job after getting out of jail on bail. Fake medicine syndicate supports them.

According to the Directorate General of Drug Administration, it has registered 236 cases from January to June this year by conducting mobile courts on charges of selling fake, counterfeit, sub-standard and expired medicines. The drug regulator also collected a fine of Tk 13,643,900 by conducting 1,094 mobile courts.   

East Bengal Unani produces drugs at BSCIC Industrial Estate in Kishoreganj. The Directorate General of Drug Administration permitted the company to produce ayurvedic medicines. But in the guise of ayurvedic medicines, East Bengal Unani had been producing fake drugs for various diseases including gastric. On information, the Directorate General of Drug Administration conducted a drive but failed to detain any responsible persons. However, it has sealed off the drug factory.

Currently, 284 companies have licenses to produce unani medicine in the country. These companies are committed to producing drugs following guidelines. However, a few of these companies are producing counterfeit medicines. They are producing drugs for all kinds of diseases including kidney and cancer. Common people and the administration do not suspect these companies as they have legal permission. The Directorate General of Drug Administration can’t monitor these factories regularly due to lack of manpower.  

Md. Nurul Alam, deputy director and law official of the Directorate General of Drug Administration said, “I had sealed off the factory of East Bengal Unani in Kishoreganj last year for producing counterfeit medicines. This company was used to supply fake drugs to various destinations including Thakurgaon and Jhenaidah. In the existing drugs act, all criminals get bail from the court easily. However, in the proposed Drug and Cosmetics Act-2023, some sections are included in the proposed act not to give bail for producing and marketing fake drugs. If the act is implemented, it will be easy to punish the persons who are involved in producing, marketing and selling adulterated medicines.”     

According to the Detective Branch source, a fake drug syndicate is marketing counterfeit medicines for various complex diseases including gastric, cancer, diabetes and kidney disease with copy wrappers. Consumers can’t easily identify these fake drugs. Some greedy pharmacy owners are helping this syndicate. This syndicate copies the medicines of renowned companies. These counterfeit medicines are produced at low-profile and unani-herbal factories. A fake drug syndicate produces drugs at night shit. Then, they send these counterfeit medicines to specific pharmacies through a courier service. Some unscrupulous pharmacy traders at Mitford are involved with this syndicate. These businessmen send fake drugs all over the country wholesale. Consumers in remote areas are buying these medicines and are being affected.    

Bangladesh Chemist & Druggist Samity director Zakir Hossain Rony said fake drugs are being sold at lower prices compared to genuine medicine companies. For this reason, other businessmen are being affected. The government is losing revenue and people’s health is in danger. 

“Antibiotic, gastric and monticules types medicines are being counterfeited more in the country,” he added.

At present, Bangladesh exports drugs to 147 countries. This export is at the risk of controversy of trust due to adulterated and counterfeited medicines.

People concerned said counterfeit drugs are more dangerous than narcotics. However, renowned drug companies do not take any legal action against the fake medicine producers.

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on September 5, 2023 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.