The shortage of medicine hits patients in the hilly district of Khagrachhari for over a week as pharmaceutical companies have suspended medicine supply to the region falling prey to extortion.
A gang of people belonging to United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) demanded Tk100,000 from each of the pharmaceutical companies, several high-ups of leading drug companies told the Dhaka Tribune, seeking anonymity.
They also threatened to shut down the pharmaceuticals business unless the demand was met immediately, the officials of the companies alleged.
The pharmaceutical industries have turnover of about 10m per month in the district.
Sources said the UPDF men intercepted the medicine delivery vans of Beximco, Reneta and Square Pharmaceuticals and took away their medicine in the first and third week of July.
They also beat the drivers of the vans and persons entrusted with the deliveries in Atharomile of Mohalchhari upazila.
But Khagrachhari unit UPDF organiser Riko Chakma denied the allegation.
He told the Dhaka Tribune it was totally a baseless allegation and the UPDF entirely relied on people’s donations for its finances and it never forced anyone to pay.
“It is our belief that some other elements might have demanded the toll in the name of our party which is a regular occurrence in the CHT.”
Riko, however, regretted the fact that the pharmaceutical companies suspended medicine supply to the district.
In the wake of suspension of medicine supply, owners of about 400 drugstores in the district are passing their days with constant worries as their business are falling.
They, however, denied giving any information about the alleged extortionists in fear of being killed.
A few top brass of the leading pharmaceuticals told the Dhaka Tribune that their employees’ lives were more precious than their businesses.
They said they had no alternative but to suspend supplying medicines to the region.
Over a week has passed since the incident took place, but no initiative was taken by either the government or the local leaders.
The drug companies have called upon the government to hold talks with the UPDF leaders, law enforcement agencies and high-ups of Association of Bangladesh Pharmaceuticals Industries.
The shortage of essential drugs has also led to their price hike in the local market.
There are about 400 drugstores across Khagrachhari district, of which only a few are collecting medicine from the retail shops of the port city, Hathazari and Rauzan upazila.
Samir Kanti Sikdar, president of Chemist and Druggist Samity of Chittagong chapter, expressed concern about the recent unwanted situation.
He told the Dhaka Tribune on Saturday if the companies continued their suspension of medicine supply, the price of medicine and people’s sufferings would have increased.
