The High Court yesterday directed the government to inform it in 72 hours what steps it has taken against two officials of Drug Administration for their incompetence in dealing with a case filed over the manufacture of toxic Paracetamol syrup that killed 28 children in 2009.
The two officials are: Drug Administration Deputy Director Altaf Hossain and its Assistant Director Shafiqul Islam. The trial court had to acquit all five officials of Rid Pharmaceuticals Ltd due to the incompetence of dealing the case filed against the officials for manufacturing of toxic Paracetamol syrup that killed 28 children in 2009.
The HC also asked the government to explain why Altaf and Shafiqul should not be removed from their service for their incompetence in dealing with the case.
In response to a writ petition, the HC bench comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice  Muhammad Ataur Rahman Khan also asked the health secretary and director general of Department of Health Services to submit a report before the bench by this time. Advocate Manzill Murshid, president of the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), filed the petition with the HC challenging the legality of keeping Altaf and Shafiqul in the service despite their incompetence. From June to August in 2009, a total of 28 children died across the country of renal failure caused by the intake of the Paracetamol syrup and suspension manufactured by Rid Pharma. On August 10, 2009, drug superintendent Shafiqul Islam filed the case with the Dhaka Drug Court against the accused persons. On November 28, last year a drug court in Dhaka acquitted five Rid Pharma officials of the case. The court also broughtallegation of incompetence against Shafiqul and Altaf in dealing with the case properly.