Authorities have shuttered a pharmaceutical factory in the BSCIC Industrial City of Kishoreganj after discovering it was clandestinely producing counterfeit medications under the guise of manufacturing Ayurvedic drugs.
The Department of Medicines Administration, responsible for approving the production of Ayurvedic medicines, uncovered the illicit operation during a recent raid. However, perpetrators managed to evade arrest, prompting the sealing of the facility.
With 284 licensed establishments authorized to manufacture Unani medicines, stringent regulations are supposed to ensure compliance with production standards. Despite this, some companies are exploiting legitimate factories to churn out fake medications for various chronic illnesses, including kidney and cancer treatments. The approval of Ayurvedic facilities has shielded these illicit operations from suspicion, both among regulators and the public.
Challenges persist for regulatory agencies due to manpower shortages, hindering their ability to regularly monitor these facilities. While occasional raids with law enforcement support have led to some arrests, perpetrators often secure bail swiftly, enabling them to resume their criminal activities with impunity.
Talking to Bangladesh Pratidin, Harun-Or-Rashid, Chief of the DMP Detective Branch, expressed concern over the proliferation of counterfeit drugs, emphasizing the critical role of medications in disease prevention and life-saving efforts. Law enforcement agencies are intensifying efforts to identify and apprehend those involved in the manufacture and distribution of fake pharmaceuticals.
According to Department of Medicines Administration sources, mobile courts filed approximately 250 cases last year related to the sale of counterfeit, adulterated, low-quality, and expired drugs. Fines totaling around 1.4 crore rupees were imposed as part of these enforcement efforts.
Nurul Alam, former deputy director and law officer of the Department of Medicine Administration told Bangladesh Pratidin, “I sealed the company producing adulterated drugs by leading the operation in Kishoreganj. They used to supply these adulterated drugs in various areas including Thakurgaon, Jhenaidah. As all drug related offenses were bailable in the previous drug act, criminals got bail easily. Now in the newly passed Medicines and Cosmetics Act 2023, there is a provision of strict punishment if the production and sale of fake, adulterated medicines are marketed.”
According to DB sources, organized gangs are releasing fake medicines for various complex diseases including gastric, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease in the exact 'original' packaging. Seeing that it is very difficult for consumers to check whether it is genuine or fake. Some very profitable pharmacy owners are helping this cycle. Medicines from reputed and well-known pharmaceutical companies are more likely to be counterfeited. They look exactly like the real drug. Counterfeit medicines are usually produced in factories like Unani-Herbal producing factories. These adulterated syndicates produce these fake medicines in the night shift. These adulterated drugs are delivered to some pharmacy chains listed in the chain in Dhaka through courier service from the factory.
Some unscrupulous pharmacy traders based in Mitford hospital area are involved in this cycle. From there, this adulterated drug spread wholesale throughout the country. These deadly fake medicines are reaching the hands of buyers in villages.
Bangladesh Chemists and Druggists Association Director Zakir Hossain Rony told Bangladesh Pratidin that fake drugs are sold at much lower prices than the prices at which traders buy drugs from companies. Due to these dishonest traders, other traders are suffering. Governments are losing revenue and people's lives are at risk. All drug dealers of the country have to take responsibility for this misdeed for the sake of a few fake traders.
“Antibiotics, gastric and Montelukas drugs are being faked more. Counterfeit medicines started circulating around 1985. But now it is more convenient to market fake medicines. Fake medicines are produced from a district and sent to a transport agency in the name of a businessman in Dhaka for a fixed price.”
“Unscrupulous traders buy fake medicines and sell them to retail traders at upazila level in villages. There, these fake drugs are sold at the price of the original drug of the company. A syndicate is achieving their objective as fake medicines change hands three to four times,” he added.
Drugs produced in Bangladesh are exported to 145 countries in the world market. Adulteration and fake medicines are questioning this reputation and trust. An unscrupulous organized gang targeting drug pharmacies located in rural areas are spreading adulterated and fake medicines across the country. This adulterated medicine is doing more harm than drugs.
However, despite the raids, the drug companies whose products are being counterfeited do not take any legal action against the counterfeiters.
(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on March 21 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan)
