Drug shortage may occur in the country

The workers involved in the production of medicines are protesting in Gazipur and Narayanganj for 18-point demands including salary increase and job permanency. In this movement of about two weeks, the production of medicines has been stopped in 19 pharmaceuticals, including two factories of Square, General Pharma, Incepta. Several more are on the way. The institutions said that this may lead to a shortage of medicines in the country.

Medicine Industry Association said these things in an emergency press conference in Tenjgao of the capital on Tuesday night. Abdul Muktadir, System Director of Incepta Pharmaceuticals and President of the Association, delivered the keynote speech at the press conference seeking security in the prison.

In the press conference, Abdul Muktadir said, except for one or two incidents in the last 50 years, there was no dissatisfaction with the demands of the workers working here. We are always aware of everything including their food and drink, salaries and allowances. They were never displeased. But for the past two weeks, he has suddenly been making various demands. Which is almost impossible for us to fulfill. Because, due to the high value of the dollar in the last four years, medium-sized companies are on the verge of closing down while importing raw materials. The large 25 to 30 pharmaceutical companies have very limited profits.

The president of the medical industry association said that they want to sign the paper by keeping the staff under arrest. A company's staff have been detained from Monday morning to Tuesday morning. Around 400 staff were also detained at Incepta from 8 am to 3.30 pm. It cannot be held hostage like this because it can make demands. Scientists and superiors are being harassed. It worries and disappoints us that they will hold hostages like this and we will not get cooperation. We cannot think that workers can do such a movement.

If it goes on like this, it may last for a few days with the stocked medicines, but then a crisis will arise. We don't know who is behind this but we understand that there is a conspiracy. Therefore, the government should take swift action.
Abdul Muktadir, President of Pharmaceutical Industry Association

The president of the association said, many factories have been vandalized, many are not able to coordinate. Meanwhile, 19 drug manufacturing factories including Square Pharmaceuticals, two factories of Incepta, General Pharma are closed. Which are running – sometimes off, sometimes on. We do not want violence. Even if the pharmaceutical industry is slightly affected, the negative impact on the entire country will be irreversible. There can be no language of violence and hostage-taking. There can be a discussion through the government. We want security.

He said, if one demand of the workers is met, more demands are being raised. One after another is increasing. There is no way we can stop it. For this reason, we suspect, even though no claim has been made, why suddenly? We do not understand why it is not accepted even if it is filled again. We have informed the highest level of government. But they are wondering which to do first. We have demanded to give priority to the pharmaceutical industry. We want them to come forward now.

He further said, if this continues, the stored medicines may last for some time, but after that, a crisis will arise. We don't know who is behind it. It's not our job. But I understand that it is a conspiracy. Therefore, the government should take swift action.