Pharma Jogot
The pharmacies of Chittagong on Sunday observed a token strike and demanded the release of 12 arrested drugstore staff.The employees were sent to jail on Wednesday after an attack on the mobile court officials who raided on Tuesday the pharmacies in search of contraband and expired medicines.
The drug sellers under the banner of the Bangladesh Chemists’ and Druggists’ Association enforced the token strike that began in the morning and ended at noon. The shutters were down during the striking hours, witnesses said.
SK Shikder, president of Chittagong unit of BCDA told New Age that they did not have an objection to mobile court operations against the errant drugstores.
‘However, the administration harasses the drug traders in the name of setting up mobile courts. The Ansar members of the mobile court on that day seized some authorized medicines along with some illegal consignments,’ Shikder said.
A mobile court led by executive magistrate Ruhul Amin came under attack on KC Dey Road, adjacent to Hazari Lane under Kotwali police, in the port city on November 24.
The mobile court also fined two errant drugstores Tk 10,000 in total and seized two cartons of medicines, mainly samples given to physicians for free of cost.
Infuriated by the mobile court action, several hundred drug traders abruptly started hurling brickbats at the court officials and staff.
A chase and counter-chase—between the traders and the Ansar members belonging to the mobile court—frightened the local people. (Source: New Age)