Deaths by toxic syrup
HC summons health secy to explain stand on drug officials
The High Court yesterday (Monday) summoned the health secretary to explain his position on the present status of taking action against two drug administration officials for negligence in dealing with a case filed for manufacturing toxic paracetamol syrup that killed at least 28 children in 2009.
In response to a petition, the HC bench, comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan, asked the health secretary, Sirajul Haque Khan, to appear before it on August 23 to explain his position on the matter. The officials are assistant director of the Directorate General of Drug Administration, Shafiqul Islam, and its deputy director, Altaf Hossain.
Advocate Manzill Murshid filed the petition on behalf of the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), following a report submitted by the health secretary before the court without taking any action against the two drug officials.
The health secretary recently submitted a probe report to the HC as per its earlier order, stating that Shafiqul and Altaf were negligent, incompetent and inefficient in filing and dealing with the case.
In the latest development, the health secretary, in another report submitted to the HC through the Attorney Generals office, stated that the government has cautioned Shafiqul Islam and Altaf Hossain for their negligence in dealing with the case.
Advocate Manzill Murshid, in a supplementary petition, told the court that although the drug officials showed negligence in dealing with the case filed for manufacturing toxic paracetamol syrup that killed the children, the health secretary did not take any action against them. After a hearing on the petition, the HC bench yesterday came up with the order.
From June to August 2009, at least 28 children across the country died of renal failure, allegedly caused by Rid Pharmas paracetamol syrup and suspension.
In August that year, Shafiqul Islam, the then superintendent of drug administration, filed the case before the Dhaka Drug Court.
On November 28 last year, the Drug Court acquitted all five officials of Rid Pharma.
Two officials of the drug administration involved in the case knowingly violated the due process of law, and exhibited sheer negligence, inefficiency and incompetence in dealing with the case, the verdict said. Shafiqul Islam and Altaf Hossain were drug superintendents in 2009.
