19 pharma factories shut down, country may face crisis  

The workers of pharmaceutical companies have continued their protest in Gazipur and Narayanganj for 18 demands, including salary increase and job regularization.

Production has been stopped in 19 factories, including factories of Square, General Pharma and Incepta due to the movement of about two weeks. Several factories may be shut down. 

Bangladesh Aushad Shilpa Samity has expressed fear that the country may face a drug crisis.

The organization said this at an emergency press conference on Thursday (September 5).

Abdul Muktadir, managing director of Incepta Pharmaceuticals and the president of the association, gave a keynote speech at the press conference asking for the safety of the factories. 

He said that in the last 50 years, except for several exceptional cases, there was no dissatisfaction among the workers in the pharmaceutical factories. We are always aware of everything including their food and drink, salary and allowances. They were never displeased. But, suddenly for the last two weeks they are making various demands, which are 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. There are 25 to 30 large pharmaceutical companies but their profits are also very limited.