The High Court issued a ruling against the government yesterday questioning its failure to control smuggling of drugs and stop the production of counterfeit medicine.
The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman passed the ruling following a writ petition filed by a non-government organisation named Organisation of Social and Environment Changes.
It also asked the government to explain why its inaction to take steps to control smuggling of drugs and surgical equipment and manufacture of fake medicine should not be declared illegal.
The court asked the health secretary and the director general of drug administration to respond to the ruling within four weeks.
The Organisation of Social and Environment Changes moved its petition the same day when a media report was published saying some dishonest businessmen have been smuggling expired drugs and surgical equipment, and manufacturing fake medicine, and selling those at pharmacies and people, putting public health at serious risk.
The petitioner also alleged that the government has been taking no steps to stop such activities.
