Bangladesh Chemist and Druggist Association has called upon all medicine store owners across the country to observe an eight-hour strike from 6:00am today to demand reducing drug licence fees and holding pharmacyregistration examination immediately.

The government has increased biennial fees of drug licence from Tk 1,300 to 2,000 about one month ago, which has become a burden for pharmacy owners, the association deputy secretary AHM Monir Hossain told The Daily Star last night.

Besides, the government has not been holding pharmacy registration examination since the last 19 months, which is mandatory for running a drugstore, he said.

"We have no alternative to going on strike to fulfil our demands because the government did not pay any heed to us despite repeated requests."

The association will hold a rally at Babu Bazar intersection at 1:00pm today to chalk out the next course of action.

Talking to The Daily Star last night, Sohel Sheikh, supervisor of the country's one of the largest medicine stores, Lazz Pharma Ltd, said they will stop selling medicines during the strike period at all of its outlets.