BLAST for resumption of trial

The Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) has urged the director general of the Directorate of Drug Administration (DDA) to take steps to resume the process of prosecution of those responsible for the deaths resulting from adulteration of paracetamol syrup.

The cases were initiated in December 1992 but have been delayed ever since.

BLAST made the call in a letter sent to DDA yesterday, says a press release.

This follows a letter that BLAST sent last week to the Attorney General's office requesting it to re-initiate action in these cases and to undertake its own inquiry into the stalled prosecutions.

It also pledged to assist in this process, if required.

"The deaths of thousands of children from Paracetamol adulteration in the 1980's and early 1990's was a terrible event in Bangladesh's history. It is important that those responsible are held to account, and BLAST is determined to ensure that this is done," said Advocate Ruhul Quddus Babu, on behalf of BLAST.

BLAST's action follows publication of a report in The Daily Star on November 11, titled 'Justice Delayed, Justice Denied'.

In the letter, BLAST has urged the DDA to undertake an inquiry as to why it has taken no steps to date to seek to vacate the orders of stay that are blocking the trials in two cases, or to initiate action against the third company.

BLAST has also requested the AG's office to take immediate steps to ensure resumption of the trials, and to consider setting up a database of all High Court interim orders of stay and monitoring such matters to prevent further delays in proceedings.