The High Court on Thursday ordered the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) to give Taka 15 lakh to the family of each of the 104 children who died after drinking fake paracetamol syrup in 1991 and 2009.
An HC bench comprising Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil passed the judgment after holding a hearing on a writ petition filed in this regard.
The court asked DGDA to collect the money from persons and companies responsible for the deaths of the children. The court also declared illegal the inaction of DGDA in controlling the business of fake medicines and ordered authorities concerned to take appropriate action against the responsible companies and persons under the relevant section of the Special Powers Act.
"The court also said the DGDA cannot avoid responsibility for the deaths of 104 children," Senior Advocate Manzil Murshid said.
As many as 76 children died in 1991 and another 28 died in 2009 after taking fake paracetamol syrup.
Source: BSS