A Dhaka court sent Managing Director of Rid Pharmaceuticals Limited Mizanur Rahman to jail yesterday in a case filed for manufacturing toxic paracetamol syrup that claimed lives of at least 28 children across the country.
Judge ANM Bashir Ullah of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court passed the order after Mizanur surrendered before the court. He said charges were brought against him because of his "heinous" acts and rejected his bail prayer.
He had a role in the preparation of paracetamol syrup that led to the death of the infants, the judge added.
The children died between June and August of renal failures due to intake of paracetamol syrup produced by Rid Pharmaceutical Company situated in Brahmanbaria's BSCIC area.
On August 11, the Drug Court had issued warrants to arrest Mizanur, two directors and two pharmacists of the company after Drug Superintendent Shafiqul Islam filed the case with the court under Drug Control Act.
On receipt of the warrants, Brahmanbaria police launched a drive to arrest them but they failed to do so as they were hiding.
However, Mizanur Rahman with his wife Sheuly Rahman, one of the directors, appeared before the High Court on August 18 and sought anticipatory bail. The HC directed him to surrender before the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court with bail prayer and said the Sessions Court shall consider the prayer for a regular bail.
Besides, the HC directed law enforcement agencies not to arrest or harass Mizanur and granted a six-month bail to Sheuly Rahman.
Following the order, Mizanur surrendered before the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka on October 12 seeking bail in the case. But the court fixed yesterday for hearing on the bail petition.
Earlier on September 16, the Drug court ordered OC of Brahmanbaria Police Station to attach property of five accused and report by October 14. As the police failed to carry out the orders, they were again directed to submit report by November 15.
One of the directors and two pharmacists accused in the case have yet to appear before any court seeking bail.
On July 22, the Drug Administration sealed off Rid's factory following the children's deaths.
The government also formed a seven-member probe committee to investigate the incident. On July 29, the probe committee placed its report that found presence of poisonous diethylene glycol in paracetamol syrups of the company.
Rid Pharma used diethylene glycol, meant for tannery and rubber industries, as a substitute for propylene glycol, as diethylene glycol costs Tk 200 per litre while propylene glycol Tk 1,100.
Later, the government banned two drugs of Rid Pharma--Ridaplex (vitamin B-complex syrup) and Temset (paracetamol suspension)--for their low standard.
Sources at Drug Administration said Rid Pharma received drug-manufacturing licence in 2006 and started marketing 12 drugs. It started producing paracetamol syrup though it had permission only for paracetamol suspension.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 11:36 PM GMT+06:00 (208 weeks ago)
Nothing will happen to the culprits. They will finally come out of jail through the loop holes of our judiciary system. In our country thousands of people are murdered every year but we dont see even one person hanged. Who shall we blame for that? Our judiciary, police, bureaucrats or the politicians? In last 20 years thousands and thousands of people were murdered but we could not even hang 20. Is it not a shame?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 08:37 PM GMT+06:00 (208 weeks ago)
I don't think we can be china overnight and that may not be coveting either however i think we are forgetting the wishes of the parents who lost their children. if another 28 children can be given an opportunity to live in this country where more children die due to doctors negligence and lack of healthcare, nothing can be more desirable.