TDS Desk:

Counterfeit ‘hepatitis B’ vaccines made from tetanus injection, and fake ‘antibiotic’ made from flour-cornflour-semolina occupied the drug market in the country for a long time. Several gangs were active in these crimes. Although these old gangs have been , restrained following the strict action of the concerned administration and law enforcement forces, new gangs are constantly being formed.

These gangs are manufacturing and marketing not only fake medicines but also substandard pregnancy testing kits and condoms. There is no way to understand whether these medical supplies are fake or not because original packets or wrappers from different authorized companies are used for marketing. Besides, the price is relatively low. As a result, patients and common people are being cheated and harmed by buying these fake medicines and other products.

Substandard pregnancy testing kits and open condom factory:

Recently, Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) and DB Police found a substandard pregnancy testing kit and open condom packaging factory in Babubazar in the capital. A large quantity of pregnancy testing kits and open condoms were recovered from the factory. At this time, two people were arrested. Besides, fake medicines worth Tk 30 lakh have been seized from 6 pharmacies in the same area.

These counterfeit medicines and illegal factories were found in a joint operation of DB Police and Directorate General of Drug Administration on Saturday.

There is no way to know whether these medical supplies are fake or not because the authorized company uses original packets or wrappers. Besides, the price is also relatively low.

It is known that counterfeit medicines worth Tk 30 lakh have been seized from 6 institutions. Among them, 29 types of unregistered drugs were seized from Naeem Pharmacy, 17 types from Shakeel Brothers, 46 types from Sahra Drugs, 17 types from Rajib Enterprises, 11 types from Al Aqsa Medicine and 17 types from Alauddin Medicine.

DGDA supervisor (drugs) Romel Mallik said that the DB Police and the Department of Medicines Administration conducted a joint operation at a factory in Abdul Alim Market of Babubazar from 2.30 pm. During the raid, it was found that fake pregnancy kits were manufactured in the factory. Besides, open market condoms were packed here. A large quantity of fake pregnancy kits and open condoms were seized during the raid.

Romel Mallick said, the estimated value of these drugs is more than 30 lakh taka. Action will be taken against these institutions according to the Medicines Act.

Ashraf Hossain, director of the Department of Medicines Administration, said that fake pregnancy kits were found stuffed in packets. These pregnancy kits do not provide accurate information to users. Due to this users may experience unexpected events.

Ashraf Hossain said, that in the case of making pregnancy kits, the approval of the Department of Medicine Administration has to be taken. The institution has no approval. At the same time, there should be an issue of temperature control, which was not there. It is not known where they got the open condoms from.

Counterfeit pregnancy kits were manufactured. Besides, open market condoms were packaged. Fake pregnancy kits found stuffed in packets. These pregnancy kits do not provide accurate information to users. Due to this users may experience unexpected events.

Horrible fraud on life-saving drugs:

The life-saving Korean vaccine Hepabig ‘B’ was used to prevent hepatitis ‘B’. One of the most important vaccines to save human lives was mimicking a cycle. This fake vaccine made with tetanus injection of only 10 taka was sold in different parts of the country including the capital for 4500 taka.

Not only Hepabig, vitamin D-3 ampoule injection, Resogam P, Clopixol Deport, Fluenzal Deport and various local and foreign vaccines and fake antibiotics were manufactured by the cycle.

On April 9, DB Police arrested four members of the gang from Kotwali Thana and Keraniganj thana area of ​​the capital. During this time, at least crores worth of fake vaccines were recovered.

This fake vaccine made with tetanus injection of only 10 taka was sold in different parts of the country including the capital for 4500 taka.

Antibiotics were made with flour, cornflour and semolina:

Antibiotics were made with flour, cornflour and semolina in the name of pharmaceuticals. Then it was sold in different markets across the country. DB Police arrested 5 members of this gang on April 1. At this time, 4 lakh 96 thousand pieces of fake antibiotics were recovered, the market value of which is about two crore taka.

The arrested are Shahin, Shahidul Islam, Sirajul Islam, Hridoy, Humayun. They were arrested in raids in Motijheel and Barishal of the capital on Sunday.

According to the DB Police, the arrested persons used to set up factories in Savar and Cumilla of Dhaka to manufacture fake antibiotic tablets and capsules. Later they used to store it in trucks or pickups in Barishal and gradually delivered to different districts of the country through courier. The gang has been doing this scam for the past 8-10 years.

The arrested have given information about the manufacture of adulterated medicines by 80 Unani pharmaceutical companies. DB Police also said that the information had been informed to the drug administration.

Antibiotics were made with flour, cornflour, semolina in the name of pharmaceuticals. Then it was supplied in different markets across the country.

Three members of the fake drug-selling ring have been arrested in the capital. At this time, the police recovered fake medicines worth about one and a half lakh taka. On March 28, three members of the gang were arrested raiding capital’s Nawabganj area.

According to police, Prakash Chandra Majumdar was working as a drug sales representative. When he lost his job, he started selling counterfeit drugs. This business was running with the help of Nuruzzaman Khan, the owner of the pharmacy. Then another pharmacy owner Uppal Sarkar joined their team. They used to buy cheap fake medicines and sell them in different pharmacies.

Worked as a drug sales representative. After leaving the job, he started selling fake medicines. This business was running with the help of a pharmacy owner. Then another pharmacy owner joined their team. They used to buy cheap fake medicines and sell them in different pharmacies.

Administration’s strict position and instructions

The Department of Health has given strict instructions regarding fake and adulterated life-threatening equipment. Director General of Department Professor Dr. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam said medicine-vaccine saves people’s lives. Those who cheat with these important safety features must be prevented. Hospitals have been warned not to get fake medicines or vaccines. This alert has been sent to public and private hospitals across the country.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Drug Administration is also in a strict position to prevent adulteration and counterfeit drugs. It is known that in the last 15 years, the licenses of 45 companies producing adulterated and low-quality drugs have been cancelled. In addition, the production licenses of numerous companies have been temporarily or permanently cancelled and production and marketing has been suspended. In the weekly and monthly meetings of the administration, the overall situation is reviewed and necessary steps are taken.