Toxic Paracetamol: HC admonishes health secretary

The High Court yesterday rebuked Health Secretary Sirajul Haque Khan for not taking appropriate action against two officials of the drug administration for their negligence in dealing with a case filed for manufacturing toxic paracetamol syrup that killed at least 28 children in 2009.

The court refused to accept the explanation given by Secretary Sirajul, who appeared before it and told the court through his lawyer that a show cause notice was issued against two officials of the drug administration.

The two officials are Assistant Director of the Directorate General of Drug Administration Shafiqul Islam and its Deputy Director Altaf Hossain.

Yesterday, the HC bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan ordered Secretary Sirajul to appear before it today for offering his explanation over the inaction against Shafiqul and Altaf.

The court sarcastically told the health secretary that he should be given a prize for his explanation.

This court has been asking for taking action against Shafiqul and Altaf since March this year, but no action was taken, the HC said.

It said many children died by taking the toxic paracetamol.

“Were they [children] born to be killed? The country has not given such a lesson to anybody. Your children don't live here [Bangladesh],” the court told Sirajul.

The HC on August summoned Secretary Sirajul Haque Khan to appear before it yesterday to explain why action was not taken against two officials.

The court passed the summons during hearing a petition moved by Supreme Court lawyer Manzill Murshid on behalf of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.

From June to August in 2009, at least 28 children across the country died of renal failure allegedly caused by Rid Pharma's paracetamol syrups and suspensions.

In August of 2009, Shafiqul Islam, the then superintendent of drug administration, filed the case with the Dhaka Drug Court.

On November 28 last year, the drug court acquitted all five of Rid Pharma's officials.

Two officials of the drug administration involved in the case knowingly violated due procedure of law, and exhibited sheer negligence, inefficiency and incompetence in dealing with the case, the verdict said.

Shafiqul Islam and Altaf Hossain were drug superintendents in 2009.

Advocate Kamrul Haque Siddiqui appeared for Sirajul.