BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has accused the government of endangering Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical sector through biased policies, lack of transparency and institutional exclusion of key industry stakeholders.

In a statement released to the media on Wednesday, Mirza Fakhrul expressed serious concern over what he described as the government’s one-sided and non-inclusive approach to regulating the pharmaceutical industry.

He stated that despite the sector’s vital role in the economy, public health and employment, the authorities have excluded representatives from Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) in crucial bodies such as the Drug Control Committee (DCC), the task force on essential medicines and its technical sub-committee.

This exclusion, he argued, is clearly against the interest of the industry and demonstrates the government’s unwillingness to engage with key stakeholders.
He also highlighted that no new drug registrations have been issued in almost two years and that price adjustments for essential medicines have not taken place in a long time.
According to Fakhrul, these delays are not only stalling innovation but also risking the country’s ability to take advantage of its waiver under the TRIPS agreement.

He underscored the urgent need to resume drug registrations and implement fair pricing policies to safeguard the sector’s future.

Fakhrul criticised the government’s approach to policy formulation, saying that any strategy that leaves out industry players is both unacceptable and unsustainable.
He stressed that, as Bangladesh prepares to graduate from its Least Developed Country (LDC) status, decisions taken now will have long-term consequences, making it essential to protect the pharmaceutical sector through well-informed and inclusive policies.

Reflecting on BNP’s past record, Fakhrul said the party had laid the foundation for a strong pharmaceutical industry during its time in office.
He pointed to the formulation of a national medicine pricing policy in 1994, the update of the National Drug Policy in 2002, and reforms to strengthen the drug regulatory authority in 2003.
He also noted that BNP government had capitalised on the TRIPS waiver to boost local production of affordable generic medicines, expand exports and encourage research and development in the sector.
He reiterated that Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry has achieved significant milestones, meeting nearly all domestic demand and exporting to over 160 countries, including the US, Canada, Australia and several European nations.
The country has also developed capabilities in producing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), a major step toward pharmaceutical self-sufficiency.

Fakhrul concluded by warning that without immediate policy reforms and genuine dialogue with the industry, the government risks undermining one of Bangladesh’s most promising sectors.
He urged the authorities to act swiftly and responsibly to ensure long-term stability and global competitiveness in pharmaceuticals.