Business Report :
The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has brought together key stakeholders to chart the future of the country’s thriving pharmaceutical sector in the post-TRIPS era.
At a consultation held on Wednesday at BIDA’s multipurpose hall, participants discussed the draft research report “Identification of the Key Challenges and Opportunities for the Pharmaceutical Sector in the Post-TRIPS Era”, highlighting both the hurdles and prospects that lie ahead as Bangladesh prepares for LDC graduation in 2026.
The consultation was chaired by Shah Mohammad Mahboob, executive member (additional secretary) of BIDA, while Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, executive chairman (state minister) of BIDA and BEZA, attended as the chief guest.
The programme began with a welcome address by Qazi Mohammad Hasan, director general (joint secretary) of BIDA’s Marketing and Communication Wing. This was followed by a keynote presentation on the draft research report delivered by Dr Sitesh Chandra Bachar, professor of the Department of Pharmacy at Dhaka University and team leader of the study.
Speakers noted that Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry-now meeting 98 percent of domestic demand and exporting to more than 160 countries-have grown into one of the nation’s most successful sectors, say a press release. With LDC graduation set for 2026, they said, the industry must prepare for stricter TRIPS compliance, which will bring both challenges and new opportunities.
Presenters highlighted that the government has already taken proactive steps to ensure a smooth transition, including reforms in patent laws, reconstitution of the Drug Control Committee, operationalisation of the API Park, and strengthening of the regulatory framework.
These measures, they said, will help safeguard medicine affordability and sustain export growth.
The draft report also pointed to future opportunities for Bangladesh to position itself as a global player in high-value pharmaceuticals, including biologics, biosimilars and API production.
Industry leaders were encouraged to increase investment in advanced drug segments, while academia was urged to modernize curricula and expand research capacity to produce skilled manpower.
Speakers further stressed the need for aligning academic programmes with the evolving needs of the pharmaceutical industry. Participants expressed confidence that, with the government’s leadership, Bangladesh can not only preserve its current achievements but also emerge as a regional hub for pharmaceuticals in the post-TRIPS era.
Summing up the discussion, BIDA officials reaffirmed that strong collaboration between the government, industry and academia will be key to ensuring competitiveness, innovation and long-term sustainability of the country’s pharmaceutical industry.
