Plaintiff asked to testify after 16yrs
A Dhaka court yesterday directed the complainant of a case filed against Adflame Pharmaceuticals on charge of adulteration of paracetamol syrup to complete his deposition made partly in 1994.
Judge Mohammad Abdul Majid of the Drug Court asked complainant Drug Superintendent Abul Khair Chowdhury to appear before the court on June 2 to complete his statement.
Several officials of Adflame Pharmaceuticals were charged with adulteration of paracetamol syrup in the case filed 18 years ago.
Abul Khair earlier gave his deposition partially on July 23, 1994 before the case was stayed by the High Court.
The Dhaka court yesterday also directed the officer-in-charge of Dhanmondi Police Station to submit a report by June 2 on execution of an arrest warrant against Azfar Pasha, one of the directors of the company.
The same court on February 9 cancelled Pasha's bail and ordered his arrest as his bail guarantors failed to produce him before the court on three consecutive dates.
However, another Adflame Director Dr Helena Pasha and Manager Mizanur Rahman, both accused of the same charge and now out on bail, were present at the court during hearing yesterday.
On December 23, 1992, the Directorate of Drug Administration filed the case against five Adflame Pharmaceuticals officials on charge of producing adulterated paracetamol syrup under the name 'Flammodol', which was tested positive for the deadly chemical diethylene glycol.
The court framed charges against the accused on May 28, 1994.
The proceedings were, however, brought to a halt in 1994 as the HC issued a temporary stay order, which was never challenged.
Although the HC lifted the stay two years ago, the Drug Court was unaware of it until The Daily Star during its recent investigation revealed the fact.
Azfar Pasha, Helena Pasha, and Mizanur Rahman got bail right after the case was filed. The other two accused Nrigendra Nath Bala and Md Noman have been absconding since then.
Seventy-six children reportedly died after intake of poisonous Flammodol.
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