A writ petition has been filed seeking the High Court directives upon the government to cancel licences of 20 pharmaceuticals companies on charge of producing substandard medicines.

The 20 pharmaceuticals companies are: Axim, Avert, Bikolpo, Dolphin, Drugland, Globe, Alpha, Kafma, Medico, National drug, North Bangle, Remo chemicals, Rid Pharma, Skylab, Spark, Star, Sunipun, Today, Tropical and Universal.

The Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) filed the petition with the HC today saying that the licences of these drug companies should be cancelled as they have failed to produce standard medicines.

The right to life of citizens has been violated due to manufacturing of substandard medicines, the petition said.

After filing the petition, the petitioner's counsel Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star that a committee of medicine experts gave recommendation to the parliament in January this year to cancel the licences of these 20 companies for the same reason.

The petitioner also prayed to the HC to direct the government to stop production of antibiotics by 14 other drug companies.