The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) has directed all of its divisional and district officials to collect samples of a Napa syrup -- belonging to a certain batch number -- produced by Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited last December from the market and send those for lab test.

The directive was issued following the deaths of two children on Thursday night in Ashuganj upazila under Brahmanbaria district.

Family claimed that the children died after they were given the syrup -- dose 120 mg/ 5ml -- with the expiry date November 2023, under batch number 32113121.

All officials concerned have been directed to collect the syrup sample from all retail and wholesale markets and send those to the National Control Laboratory at the DGDA headquarters in Dhaka, according to the circular signed by Major General Mohammad Yousuf, director general of DGDA.

Meanwhile, DGDA has banned the sale of Napa syrup belonging to the batch across Brahmanbaria district, reports our local correspondent.