Syed Shemul Parvez :
A mobile court of RAB launched a raid in city’s largest drug market Mitford area to search for fake, expired and free government drugs from Monday night to Tuesday morning. The campaign fined 13 medicine shops Tk 29 lakh for keeping these drugs.
The operation was jointly carried out by RAB-3, RAB-10, the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) and Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI).
Meanwhile, businessman of the country’s largest wholesale medicine market in the capital’s Mitford were protesting and Monday’s drive to stop the sale of illegal and unauthorised medicine. Some traders of the market alleged that the RAB personnel often harassed them, arrested their fellow traders, and seized their goods indiscriminately. They urged the Bangladesh Chemists and Druggists Samity (BCDS) to take the measures to free the arrested traders.
One of the traders of the market said “It is the responsibility of the DGDA to check the quality of the medicine, and fix the price. They should fine the companies who produce these drugs, not us”.
RAB sources told the media that they carried out the raid in 13 drug stores of Ali Medicine Market. Different fake birth control products are available in these stores. Besides, various types of expired and government drugs were also seized which worth tk around 29 lakh.
RAB Executive Magistrate said that the shop owners and employees of the market have been fined Tk 29 lakh for selling fake, government free drugs and expired drugs.
Besides, it has been directed to file regular cases against such shops.
