Children's death from syrup: DGDA asked to give Tk 15 lakh to each family

The High Court today directed the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) to give Tk 15 lakh as compensation to each of the families of the 104 children, who died after taking toxic paracetamol syrup in 1991 and 2009.

Delivering the verdict on a writ petition, the HC ordered Directorate General of Drug Administration to collect the money from the companies or persons who are responsible for producing the toxic paracetamol syrup, after paying the amounts to the victim families.

The HC observed that the directorate cannot avoid the responsibility of incidents that killed 104 children.

It directed the authorities concerned of the government to take appropriate action against the responsible companies and persons under the relevant section of the Special Powers Act.

The HC also declared the inaction of the drug administration to control toxic medicine.

The HC bench of Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil came up with the verdict and observation following the writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) in 2010 seeking necessary directives on this issue.

Petitioner's lawyer Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star that 79 children died in 1991 and 28 children died in 2009 after taking toxic paracetamol syrup and the Directorate General of Drug Administration will have to give Tk 15 lakh to each of the families of the 104 children immediately after receiving the HC judgement.