The fate of the cases against Rid Pharmaceuticals – the company allegedly responsible for the deaths of 25 children in 2009 – remains in limbo, with officials concerned oblivious to the current status of legal proceedings against the accused.
Although four cases were filed against the pharmaceuticals’ bosses, and several top officials including the owner and his wife were also arrested at the time; all of those accused are currently out of jail after securing bail.
In 2009, at least 25 children died after suffering from renal failure, allegedly after consuming paracetamol syrups produced by Rid Pharmaceuticals, prompting the Health Ministry to form a seven-member probe body.
The committee found the presence of poisonous Diethylene Glycol – which is used in tannery and battery industries – in Rid Pharma’s paracetamol syrup. The company’s licence was then suspended.However, since then, no significant progress has been made in any of the cases.
When asked by the Dhaka Tribune, several senior-level officials of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), including the plaintiffs of the cases, were unable to explain the progress of the cases.
DGDA Deputy Director Ruhul Amin, the regulator's designated information officer, told the Dhaka Tribune that he had no information regarding the cases. Instead, he suggested contacting the case petitioners for more details.
However, Nayar Sultana, a DGDA deputy director who lodged a case with a Narayanganj court, said she could not give any information about the case as the court had not asked for her over the last four-five years.
Based on her reference, the Dhaka Tribune then contacted Saikot Kumer Kar, a drug superintendent who was currently dealing with the case. He said: “I do not know anything about the case as I was not employed at the job back then. You would get more information from Nayar Sultana madam. As the petitioner, she could tell you the details.”
DGDA Director Abul Khayer Chowdhury, then the drug superintendent who lodged a case in Comilla, said: “Although I am the petitioner, I do not know anything about it. A long time ago the court summoned me once. After that, I have not been called further by the court.”
Md Shafiqul Islam, an assistant director of the DGDA who also lodged a case with the drug court of Dhaka, said he had given a statement before the court around three to four months ago; but has not heard from the court since then.
