BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has voiced deep concern over potential risks facing Bangladesh’s promising pharmaceutical industry, urging the government to adopt transparent, participatory, and industry-friendly policies to safeguard the sector.
He made these remarks in a statement on Wednesday.
Fakhrul stated, “The government has recently introduced several opaque and unilateral policies and directives while demonstrating mismanagement in certain areas, creating significant risks for this promising industry.”
He highlighted that the newly formed Drug Control Committee’s (DCC) Technical Sub-Committee, tasked with ensuring essential drug availability, excluded representatives from the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI).
“BNP believes transparency, participatory decision-making, and professional involvement are crucial for policy formulation, regulation, and pharmaceutical sector development,” Fakhrul asserted. “The most appropriate solution in the national interest would be joint resolution through discussions with BAPI and all relevant stakeholders.”
The BNP leader opposed “any committee formation, amendment, or implementation that excludes industry entrepreneurs,” stressing the need for protective decisions ahead of Bangladesh’s LDC graduation in November 2026. He noted that “no new drug registrations have been approved for nearly two years, while drug price adjustments remain long overdue.”
“The delay in new drug approvals risks Bangladesh losing TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver benefits as we transition to a middle-income country. Registrations should be expedited without further delay,” he cautioned.
Fakhrul emphasised that “the pharmaceutical sector is no longer just a manufacturing industry – it has become a strategic national asset,” requiring timely and responsible decisions for its protection and growth.
Expressing hope for collaborative solutions, he urged the government to “engage entrepreneurs in dialogue to maintain the sector’s stability and reputation” through industry-friendly policies.
The BNP leader acknowledged the sector’s vital contributions to the economy, public health, and employment, noting its international recognition for meeting nearly all domestic demand while expanding exports.
“Quality Bangladeshi medicines now reach over 160 countries including the USA, Europe, Canada, and Australia, with notable progress in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) production,” he added.
