The shortage of medical supply in Khagrachhari district is escalating for the past couple of weeks due to extortion forces. Pharmaceutical companies are saying that UPDF activists have demanded one lakh taka from every pharmaceutical companies which is causing the shortage of supply in the region. UPDF is threatening to shut down the pharmaceutical companies unless they pay up the demanded money.
It has been reported that UPDF gang members intercepted Square, Beximco and Reneta medicine carrying vans and hijacked the medicines during the first and third week of July. They have also beaten up the van drivers and the delivery people in Atharomile, Mohalchhari.
Riko Chakma, organizer of UPDF in Khagrachhari has totally denied these allegations and claimed that all of their operations are funded by the people and they have never used any kind of forceful way to extract money from people. He added that some other group might be using UPDF name to extract the money.
The lack of medical supply is causing problems for the patients as well as the drug store owners. There are about 400 drug stores in the district and they are worried that their business are not going to last longer. Even though this is a very common occurrence in the Chittagong Hill Tracks no one is willing to give up the names of the extortionists. Most people are afraid of their lives and they are willing to sacrifice their businesses if it keeps them alive.
Even though it has been months since these incidents took place the authority has not taken any action to resolve or prevent this. The government has not initiated any talks between the pharmaceutical companies and the UPDF high-ups. The shortage of medical supplies has spiked up the drug price in the region. This is due to the fact that the drug store owners are now getting the medicines from retail stores in Chittagong and it is costing them more money.
It has been reported that UPDF gang members intercepted Square, Beximco and Reneta medicine carrying vans and hijacked the medicines during the first and third week of July. They have also beaten up the van drivers and the delivery people in Atharomile, Mohalchhari.
Riko Chakma, organizer of UPDF in Khagrachhari has totally denied these allegations and claimed that all of their operations are funded by the people and they have never used any kind of forceful way to extract money from people. He added that some other group might be using UPDF name to extract the money.
The lack of medical supply is causing problems for the patients as well as the drug store owners. There are about 400 drug stores in the district and they are worried that their business are not going to last longer. Even though this is a very common occurrence in the Chittagong Hill Tracks no one is willing to give up the names of the extortionists. Most people are afraid of their lives and they are willing to sacrifice their businesses if it keeps them alive.
Even though it has been months since these incidents took place the authority has not taken any action to resolve or prevent this. The government has not initiated any talks between the pharmaceutical companies and the UPDF high-ups. The shortage of medical supplies has spiked up the drug price in the region. This is due to the fact that the drug store owners are now getting the medicines from retail stores in Chittagong and it is costing them more money.
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