Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL), the state-owned pharmaceutical manufacturer under the Ministry of Health, is poised to eliminate more than 1,000 jobs as part of a major workforce overhaul aimed at restoring efficiency and financial sustainability.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by EDCL Managing Director Samad Mridha during a press briefing at the company’s headquarters in Dhaka.
Mridha revealed that EDCL has long been burdened by severe overstaffing, with over 2,000 employees identified as non-essential or redundant. “Many of these individuals were unskilled, and in several cases, we found fake educational certificates,” he said. “Worse, some were on the payroll without performing any duties. That cannot continue.”
So far, 722 employees have been terminated for misconduct, inefficiency, and document forgery. An additional 1,000+ staff will be removed in upcoming phases as part of a broader restructuring plan to streamline operations and ensure the company’s long-term survival.
Legacy of Political Hiring Exposed
Mridha attributed the bloated workforce to years of politically driven recruitment under the previous government. He cited a notorious example: a so-called “Rohingya Room,” where employees were reportedly paid salaries without being assigned any work. “That wasn’t a workplace—it was a payroll scheme,” he said. “We’re ending such practices to transform EDCL into a functional, accountable public enterprise.”
Appointed during the interim administration, Mridha emphasized that the company is now refocusing on its original mission: producing affordable, essential medicines for the public. “In recent years, EDCL drifted into generic drug production, and its potential was wasted due to mismanagement and lack of political will,” he said.
“Now, under the guidance of Health Advisor Dr. Noor Jahan and the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, we are realigning EDCL to serve public health—not political interests.”
The MD highlighted significant reforms in procurement and production processes. Past practices, he said, were marred by corruption and inefficiency, particularly in the purchase of raw materials.
“We’ve introduced a transparent, competitive, and quality-driven procurement system,” Mridha explained. “This has drastically reduced production costs and improved accountability.”
As a direct result, the prices of 33 essential medicines have already been reduced by up to 50%.
Looking ahead, Mridha expressed optimism that sustained reforms could lead to deeper price cuts across a wider range of vital drugs within the next six months. “Our goal is simple: make life-saving medicines accessible and affordable for all, especially the underprivileged,” he said. “This restructuring is painful but necessary—and we’re committed to seeing it through.”
