The CA stated this when a 19-member delegation of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries led by its president SM Shafiuzzaman met him at his office in the afternoon.

The association leader apprised him that Bangladesh, along with other LDCs, could manufacture patent drugs and export to the least developed countries until 2016 as per WTO-TRIPS Agreement and Doha declaration.

And it is only Bangladesh which can export patent medicines as an LDC to 49 other LDCs as the country, out of 50 LDCs, is self-sufficient in manufacturing drugs.

But Bangladesh pharmaceutical industries would not be able to reap the advantage if the Patent Act 1911 is not updated, the association leaders told the CA.

Responding to them, the Chief Adviser said he wouldlook into the matter and talk with the ministries concerned, according to Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim.

Bangladesh is now exporting drugs and pharmaceutical raw materials to 68 countries, meeting 97 percent local demand and contributing remarkably to the national economy. The pharmaceutical sector is the second-largest taxpayer, according to the association leaders.

The association leaders also appealed for allocation of two bighas of land to set up a modern Drug-testing Laboratory in the capital city which would help in carrying out Bio-Equivalent Test for domestic drugs, which is mandatory before accessing the international market.

Because, now this test has to be performed abroad, which is very expensive. If the laboratory can be set up, they would be able to carry out the bio-equivalent test here at less cost.

The CA said he would talk the matter with the concerned authorities.

About appointment of a drug administrator, he said the appointment would be given soon in order to act as watchdog in the life-saving industry.

As the matter of reported recent price hike of drugs came up, the owners of pharma industries claimed that prices of drugs have not been increased to date since 1994.

Among others, Samson H Chowhdury of Square, Mizanur Rahman Sinha of ACME and owners and chief executives of the country's leading pharmaceutical companies were on the delegation.