The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) is responsible for ensuring the availability of safe, effective, and quality medicines for millions of people across Bangladesh. However, a senior official of this crucial regulatory body has been named in various allegations involving corruption, abuse of power, recruitment and transfer irregularities, and the accumulation of unexplained wealth. These allegations have raised questions about administrative transparency and accountability within the organization. Concerned parties are calling for an impartial investigation and appropriate action.
Operating under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the DGDA plays a vital role in ensuring that safe, effective, and quality medicines are available in the country’s market. However, several sources familiar with the organization allege that irregularities and the concentration of influence have persisted within the department for years. According to these sources, Deputy Director Saikat Kumar Kar joined government service in 2012 and has spent a substantial part of his career working at the DGDA headquarters, allegedly establishing a position of considerable influence. Questions have also been raised about his continued presence at the headquarters despite administrative changes and transfer-related developments.
Allegations have also emerged that an influential internal circle has contributed to the deprivation of some qualified district-level officials of their preferred postings and training opportunities. In contrast, Saikat Kumar Kar is alleged to have received various benefits, including multiple overseas training opportunities. However, an independent examination of relevant documents and administrative decisions is necessary to establish the accuracy of these claims.
Concerns have also been raised about medicine quality-control activities during the 2025–26 fiscal year. According to information provided by concerned sources, the National Drug Control Laboratory (NDCL) identified 77 medicines as substandard during this period. Questions have arisen over the measures taken against the companies responsible for manufacturing and marketing these products, which could pose risks to public health. Complainants allege that some influential pharmaceutical manufacturers have avoided appropriate punitive action. The roles of the relevant officials and the measures taken in response to these findings therefore warrant closer scrutiny.
Further allegations concern the approval of medicine imports and the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs). In particular, questions have been raised over the alleged issuance of NOCs for unregistered food supplements and nutritional supplements. Saikat Kumar Kar has also been accused of seeking financial benefits by delaying or withholding files relating to the issuance of manufacturing licences for allopathic and Unani medicines, packaging approvals, medicine price determination, medical device registration, validation of raw-material sources, and import authorizations. Verification of the relevant documents, approval procedures, and financial transactions is essential to determine whether these allegations have merit.
Serious allegations have also been made regarding recruitment and transfer-related transactions. According to several sources within the organization, financial dealings allegedly took place in connection with transfers to important posts and preferred workplaces. An appointment order involving 74 individuals, published on June 3, 2025, has also become the subject of allegations of irregularities, fraud, and financial transactions. Complainants claim that Saikat Kumar Kar played a role in securing government jobs for several candidates in exchange for money. However, these claims require verification through recruitment records, merit lists, official approvals, and statements from the individuals concerned.
Meanwhile, allegations have surfaced that Saikat Kumar Kar and members of his immediate family own substantial assets, including apartments, land, and significant amounts of cash in affluent areas of the capital. Complainants have also alleged that properties and other movable and immovable assets have been accumulated under various names in Cumilla, his reported hometown, and elsewhere in the country. Without reliable documentation, it is not possible to determine the actual extent, ownership, or sources of funding for these alleged assets. Nevertheless, a thorough investigation could help establish whether the assets are consistent with the relevant income and financial disclosures.
Public health experts and stakeholders emphasize that transparency is essential in an institution entrusted with medicine quality control, licensing, and market surveillance. Allegations of misconduct within such a regulatory body could undermine public confidence and potentially jeopardize public health. Consequently, calls have been made for a coordinated and impartial investigation involving the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and other relevant authorities.
The stakeholders further urge the authorities to take appropriate legal action if the allegations are substantiated. They also stress the need for stronger oversight, transparent administrative procedures, and effective accountability mechanisms to prevent future irregularities and protect the public interest.
The allegations against Saikat Kumar Kar have not been established as proven facts in this report. An independent investigation, supported by documentary evidence and an opportunity for the accused official to respond, is necessary to determine the facts and ensure due process.