A petition was filed with the High Court yesterday seeking its directive on the government to cancel licences of 20 pharmaceutical companies and stop their production on charge of producing substandard medicines.

The companies are: Aexim, Avert, Bikolpo, Dolphin, Drugland, Globe, Alpha, Kafma, Medico, National drug, North Bengal, Remo chemicals, Rid, Skylab, Spark, Star, Sunipun, Today, Tropical and Universal.

The Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) submitted the petition.

The petition said the right to life of citizens has been violated due to manufacturing of substandard medicines so the licences of these pharmaceutical companies should be cancelled.

Petitioner's counsel Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star that a committee of medicine experts in January this year recommended that the parliament cancel these companies' licences for the same reason.

In the petition, the HRPB also prayed to the HC to order the government to stop production of antibiotic by 14 other pharmaceuticals companies due to their alleged failure to control the quality of such medicines.

The pharmaceuticals are: Ad Din, Alkad, Belsen, Bengal Drugs, Bistol, Crystal, Indo Bangla, Millat, MST, Orbit, Pharmatik, Phoebix, Rasa and Save, Manzill Mursdid said, adding, the HC may hold hearing on the petition today.