Today (11 August 2022), the Cabinet approved the Draft Drugs Act 2022, stipulating a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk 100,000 for the manufacture of counterfeit medicines.
The same penalties apply for importing drugs without government approval, Chief Cabinet Secretary Khandkar Anwar Islam said at a press conference.
Follow the Daily Star’s Google News channel for all the latest news. The approval came from a cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who attended the meeting virtually from Gono Baban’s residence.
Other ministers were connected from the Bangladesh Secretariat.
During a briefing, Anwarul said the crimes for which a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk 100,000 were maintained in the draft law included manufacturing or importing drugs without a license. Manufacturing, importing, exporting, marketing, stocking, selling or exhibiting pharmaceuticals without registration. Manufacturing, selling, storing, or marketing adulterated goods. Stealing and selling government drugs.
Under existing law, the punishment for such crimes is a maximum of three years’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk 20,000, he said.
