Shariful Islam (Rukon)

I wrote this report, titled "Pharmaceutical companies helpless against fake drug syndicates", which was published in Ekushey Patrika. This investigation is incredibly important because it exposes a deeply rooted, organized crime network that directly threatens public health in Bangladesh, and it is a great honor that this specific piece of journalism earned me the TIB Investigative Journalism Award in 2023. The significance of this report lies in its direct unmasking of how unregistered, illegal, and counterfeit drugs are openly infiltrating the market. In my investigation, I revealed how an unapproved foreign drug named "Epaset," purportedly from Italy's River Pharma, is being prescribed to patients by medical professionals like Dr. Pratik Chowdhury, an Assistant Professor at Chittagong Medical College. I demonstrated the absurdity of the pricing to prove the fraud, showing that an Epaset tablet costing 80 BDT in Italy was somehow being "imported" and sold for about 43 BDT in Bangladesh, featuring completely mismatched, low-quality packaging. Furthermore, the report is critical because it identifies the specific individuals and entities driving this black market. I found that a company called Benview International, owned by Anisur Rahman, is distributing these illegal drugs. The investigation highlighted that Anisur Rahman was previously the Managing Director of Orbit Pharmaceuticals, a factory that faced high court bans and had its drug registrations canceled due to severe irregularities. The report also brought to light the complicity of the Bangladesh Chemists and Druggists Samity, showing how their powerful syndicate actively protects counterfeiters. Leaders of this Samity, such as Samir Kanti Sikdar, and individuals like Jakir Hossain Roni, acknowledge the widespread presence of fake drugs but admit their policy is often to shield the sellers to maintain their leadership positions. Perhaps the most alarming and important finding I documented is the sheer helplessness of legitimate pharmaceutical companies. Even when top companies find their popular drugs like Sergel, Acteria, and Fluclox being counterfeited in places like Chittagong's Hazari Lane wholesale market, they are terrified to file lawsuits. Industry insiders, including Shah Mohammad Jalal Uddin, formerly of Beximco Pharma, confirmed that if companies take action against fake drug sources, the pharmacy syndicate retaliates by boycotting their legitimate products. By bringing these harsh realities to light, my report serves as a crucial wake-up call to dismantle the dangerous nexus between corrupt business owners, complicit medical professionals, and inactive authorities.

I wrote this report, titled "Pharmaceutical companies give doctors checks, houses, cars to woo them," which was published in Ekushey Patrika. This investigation is incredibly important because it exposes the unethical financial nexus between doctors and drug companies, and it is a great honor that this specific piece of journalism earned me the TIB Investigative Journalism Award in 2024. The significance of this report lies in its direct unmasking of how pharmaceutical companies bribe medical professionals, a massive cost ultimately borne by helpless patients who are forced to pay inflated prices for medications. Through rigorous investigation, I secured copies of 65 account payee checks from companies like Albion Laboratories and Sun Pharma, revealing that over 46 lakh BDT was distributed to 43 doctors in the Chittagong region. I documented how leaders of pharmaceutical companies, such as Albion's chairman Raisul Uddin Saikat, facilitated these payments. I exposed the financial trails leading to numerous medical professionals, including Dr. Mohammad Gias Uddin Sagar, Dr. Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman Chowdhury, Dr. M A Kashem, Dr. Md. Elias Chowdhury, Dr. Mohiuddin A Sikder, Dr. Syedul Alam Koraishi, Dr. Md. Yusuf Faruqui Parvez, Dr. Saroj Kanti Chowdhury, Dr. Ashish Dey, Dr. A K M Mohiuddin Bhuiyan, Dr. Kamrul Hasan Lohani, and Dr. Mohammad Abu Tayab. Furthermore, the investigation brought to light the involvement of many other doctors who were issued checks, such as Dr. Kazi Md. Abrar Hasan, Dr. Pratik Chowdhury, Dr. Md. Shah Alam, Dr. Safiul Alam, Dr. Dilip Chowdhury, Dr. Moinuddin Chowdhury, Dr. Surajit Roy Chowdhury, Dr. Syed Md. Syedul Bashar, Dr. Manish Saha Roy, Dr. Dodul Das, Dr. Jibon Chandra Das, Dr. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Dr. Md. Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Dr. Ilias Talukder, Dr. Md. Gias Uddin Chowdhury, Dr. Riaz Uddin Chowdhury, Dr. Md. Zahirul Haque Bhuiyan, Dr. Iftekhar Riaz Chowdhury, Dr. Umme Habiba Rahman, Dr. Nasrin Farzana Soni, Dr. Emrul Hossain, Dr. Sumit Roy Chowdhury, Dr. Narayan Das, Dr. Hamida Yasmin Jessie, Dr. Abdullah, Dr. Md. Salauddin, Dr. Sheikh Mahmudul Hasan, Dr. AKM Afzal, Dr. Md. Kamruzzaman, Dr. Khaleda Akter, and Dr. Md. Russel. The report is also critical because it details the deceptive methods used to hide these bribes, such as opening separate bank accounts and organizing fake seminars. It incorporates the voices and warnings of experts, officials, and industry insiders, including Prof. A B M Faroque, Asad Ullah, Md. Mizanur Rahman, S M Shafiuzzaman, Dr. Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Dr. Md. Mohiuddin, Health Secretary Dr. Mu. Anwar Hossain Howlader, and Major General Mohammad Yousuf, who all acknowledge or condemn this aggressive and unethical marketing. By publishing this, I aimed to dismantle a system where medical prescriptions are driven by corporate bribes rather than patient needs.