Clear policy needed to protect country’s pharmaceutical industry: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has expressed deep concern over potential risks facing Bangladesh’s promising pharmaceutical industry.

He urged the government to safeguard the sector through a transparent, participatory, and industry-friendly policy.

In a statement on Wednesday (August 13), he said that the government has recently taken several non-transparent and one-sided policies and directives, and in some cases created examples of mismanagement, which have posed serious risks to this high-potential industry.

Fakhrul added that the newly formed Technical Sub-Committee of the Drug Control Committee (DCC), tasked with ensuring the list and supply of essential medicines, does not include any representative from the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI).

He said the BNP believes that transparency, participatory decision-making, and the involvement of professionals are essential in policy formulation, regulation, and development of the pharmaceutical sector.

Fakhrul added that, in the national interest, the best course of action is to find joint solutions through discussions with BAPI and all relevant stakeholders.

“We do not support the formation, amendment, or implementation of any committee that excludes industry entrepreneurs. With the upcoming LDC graduation ahead, the right decisions must be made to protect the sector,” he said.

Fakhrul pointed out that no new medicines have been registered for nearly two years, and drug prices have not been adjusted for a long time.

He warned that by not approving new medicines, Bangladesh risks losing the benefits of the TRIPS waiver, as the country will officially graduate to middle-income status on November 24, 2026. Therefore, he stressed, new medicine registrations should be approved without any delay.

Fakhrul said the pharmaceutical sector is no longer just a manufacturing industry—it is a strategic asset for the country. Timely and responsible decisions are urgently needed to protect and develop this sector.

He emphasized that the industry must be advanced through coordination between the government, private sector, entrepreneurs, experts, and researchers. Fakhrul expressed hope that the government would maintain the stability and reputation of the sector by making industry-friendly decisions in consultation with entrepreneurs.

Fakhrul said that Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry has long played an important role in the economy, public health, and employment. The industry meets almost all domestic demand and has steadily expanded its export potential, earning international recognition.

He further mentioned that quality medicines produced in Bangladesh are now exported to over 160 countries, including the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia. The sector is also making significant progress in the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).