Bangladeshi court sentences 3 for drug adulteration

Three officials of a drug manufacturing company in Bangladesh were today sentenced to 10 years in prison for supplying intoxicated syrup that claimed lives of 76 children and caused critical ailments to several hundred others in 1994.
"They have been sentenced with the highest penalty (under the drug law) as they committed crimes against humanity," Dhaka court judge Abdur Rashid said while pronouncing the verdict.
Two of the three convicted officials of Adflame pharmaceuticals were present as the judge pronounced the verdict while the third accused was tried in absentia as he is on the run.
The court also fined each of them Taka 2 lakh (USD 2,600 approx) alongside the 10 years of jail term while it acquitted two suspects as allegations against them could not be proved beyond doubt.

The court in May 1994 had indicted the five officials of the company after the paracetamol syrup of their company tested positive for toxic chemical of Diethylene glycol.
The syrup was tested after 76 children died and several hundred others developed kidney complications after consuming the drug for ordinary fever or minor pain.
Two of the convicts - director of Adflame Helena Pasha and manager Mizanur Rahman were immediately sent to jail while the court said the sentence of absconding quality in-charge Nigendra Pasha Bala would start the day he would be arrested or surrenders.