Photo: BSS

KHULNA, April 19, 2025 (BSS) - The government will build a pharmaceutical raw material manufacturing plant at the closed Khulna Newsprint Mill this year. 

"The plant will be constructed around 47 acres of land of the closed Khulna Newsprint Mill estimated cost of Taka 3,382 crore and will be operated under the supervision of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC)," Md Delwar Hossain, Director (Planning and Implementation) of BCIC told BSS today. 

"After completion of the feasibility report by the Consultation Firm Infrastructures Finance Investment Company (IFIC), the project proposal is currently awaiting at the Ministry of Industry for approval in the meeting to be held next week," he said. 

The project will also to send to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval in next month.

"We have also sent a letter to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) to construct the project with Public Private Partnership (PPP), he said, adding that "We will call an International tender after ensuring a source of funds." 

Essential machinery will be imported from Germany, Sweden, and other European countries to facilitate production after completion of all procedure, he hoped. 

The initiative aims to reduce the country's dependency on imported raw materials for pharmaceuticals alongside saving foreign currency, he added. 

A pharmaceutical raw material production facility, titled 'Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Starch', will be constructed in the Mill's area, BCIC sources said.

The BCIC proposed the establishment of an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) manufacturing complex.

The Ministry of Industries approved the project and agreed to fully finance its implementation after completing a feasibility study. 

The project is currently awaiting approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) and WASO Engineers and Consultants (BD) Limited has been appointed as the consulting firm. 

Delwar Hossain said, "Funds will be allocated for the project in the upcoming fiscal year. Essential machinery will be imported from Germany, Sweden, and other European countries to facilitate production.

The ingredients include Pantoprazole Sodium, Rabeprazole, Fluconazole, Atorvastatin Calcium, Fexofenadine Hydrochloride, Metformin Hydrochloride, Vildagliptin, Paracetamol, Azithromycin, and Amlodipine, among others.

"Currently, around 90 percent of raw materials used in the local pharmaceutical industry are imported. When the manufacturing plant will be operated, it will reduce import dependency and significantly enhance the pharmaceutical sector's self-sufficiency, Delwar added.