The Bangladeshi pharmaceutical industry is facing a serious crisis, with nearly 40% of medicines in the market reportedly adulterated or counterfeit. Across the country, fake and substandard life-saving medicines are flooding the market, with rural areas more affected than urban centers, including Dhaka. Regulatory failure has worsened the situation, as drug sellers allege widespread corruption within oversight agencies, where certain officials regularly accept bribes from manufacturers and sellers of fake medicines.
When questioned, sellers at a leading pharmacy in Dhaka admitted that around 40% of medicines sold nationwide are either fake or adulterated. They revealed that many imported medicines, including insulin and life-saving injections, are counterfeit. However, a few reputable Bangladeshi companies are producing quality insulin under strict processes.
Shockingly, even the counterfeiters themselves are unaware of the actual chemical content of the fake medicines. Recently arrested counterfeiters confessed that their focus was solely on matching packaging, color, and texture.
Owners of several major pharmaceutical companies have admitted that fake and adulterated medicines dominate the market, expressing frustration over the lack of control. According to the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), while 302 companies are officially registered to produce allopathic medicines, only 229 companies are operational. Due to irregularities, 63 companies have been temporarily suspended, while two have permanently closed. Currently, only 20-25 companies’ medicines dominate the local market, with over 50 companies exporting to more than 100 countries.
Medical experts have expressed serious concern. Emeritus Professor Dr. ABM Abdullah warned that consuming counterfeit medicines can cause severe side effects and organ damage. Dhaka Medical College Principal Dr. Kamrul Alam stressed the need for strict enforcement to prevent the sale of medicines without prescriptions, calling current practices “suicidal.”
Kidney specialist Dr. Harun Or Rashid warned that fake medicines could damage kidneys and livers, while pediatrician Dr. Shafi Ahmed Moaz highlighted the deadly risk of fake drugs for children. Gynecologist Dr. Musarrat Sultana Sumi added that counterfeit medicines pose serious threats to pregnant women and unborn babies. Public health expert Dr. Ayesha Akhter echoed concerns over the serious health risks posed by adulterated drugs.
Dr. Zakir Hossain, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Industry Association, emphasized that despite Bangladesh’s growing presence in the international pharmaceutical market, strict legal action must be taken against adulterators to protect public health.
Sarwar Alam, deputy secretary at the Expatriates Welfare Ministry and a former anti-adulteration magistrate, called for regular nationwide drives and strict punishments to prevent the production and marketing of fake medicines.
In response, Ashraf Hossain, Director of the DGDA, stated that nationwide operations against fake and adulterated medicines are ongoing. However, he admitted that with limited manpower, it is challenging to monitor and regulate Bangladesh’s vast medicine market effectively.
