Judgment in toxic syrup case today

Judgment is likely to be delivered today against five officials of Rid Pharmaceuticals Ltd over manufacturing of toxic paracetamol syrup that claimed at least 28 children's lives in 2009.

The five officials of the pharmaceutical company are Managing Director Mizanur Rahman; directors Sheuli Rahman, also Mizan's wife, and Abdul Gani; and pharmacists Mahbubul Islam and Enamul Haque.

Among the accused, Mizanur Rahman and his wife Sheuli Rahman are currently on bail while the other three are still at large.

Judge M Atoar Rahman of Dhaka Drug Court will deliver the judgment at around 11:30am, court sources said.

During the trial, the court recorded statements of five prosecution witnesses including that of the complainant of the case.

From June to August 2009, 28 children died across the country of renal failures caused by the intake of paracetamol syrup and suspension manufactured by Rid Pharma.

On August 10 the same year, Shafiqul Islam, then superintendent of drug administration, filed the case against the accused with Dhaka Drug Court.

Four more cases were filed against them in Brahmanbaria, Comilla, Narayanganj and Sylhet.