Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain Appointed Chairman; Managing Director and CEO A.K.M. Ashrafuzzaman to Serve as Member Secretary
Dhaka, October 31, 2026: Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL), the state-owned pharmaceutical manufacturing company of Bangladesh, has reconstituted its Board of Directors. Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain, Honorable Minister of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has been appointed Chairman of the newly reconstituted Board. A.K.M. Ashrafuzzaman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of EDCL, will serve as its Member Secretary.
The newly constituted Board comprises senior officials from relevant government ministries and departments, distinguished academics, and independent directors, bringing together diverse expertise and institutional experience.
Composition of the New Board of Directors
Chairman
Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain
Honorable Minister
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Member Secretary of Directors
A.K.M. Ashrafuzzaman
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL).
Directors
1. Dr. M. A. Muhith
Honorable State Minister
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
2. Dr. A. N. M. Bazlur Rashid
Secretary
Health Services Division
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
3. Mohammad Azad Chhallal
Additional Secretary, Finance Division
Ministry of Finance
(Independent Director).
4. Professor Dr. Prabhat Chandra Biswas
Director General
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
5. Md. Alamgir Hossain
Director General (Additional Secretary)
Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA).
6. Dr. Jinnat Rehana
Director General
Directorate General of Family Planning.
7. Dr. Zakir Ahmed Chowdhury
Professor and Chairman
Department of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka
(Independent Director).
EDCL’s Journey Towards Modernization and Development Under the Dynamic Leadership of Its Managing Director
The growth, development, and institutional advancement of Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL) are being driven forward under the dynamic, visionary, and action-oriented leadership of its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO), A.K.M. Ashrafuzzaman. His leadership places strong emphasis on expanding production capacity, enhancing productivity and operational performance, strengthening workforce efficiency, and ensuring continuous improvement in the quality of pharmaceutical products.
Furthermore, the optimal utilization of existing infrastructure and resources, reduction of production time and operational costs, minimization of wastage, improvement of human resource management, and development of a more efficient working environment are being prioritized to enhance the company’s overall productivity and operational effectiveness.
Under his leadership, initiatives are advancing to transform EDCL into a modern, technology-driven, efficient, quality-focused, self-reliant, people-oriented, and well-governed state-owned pharmaceutical manufacturing organization. These efforts are expected to further strengthen the company’s contribution to the pharmaceutical industry, ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential medicines to public healthcare institutions, and support the protection of public health.
As part of the company’s broader development initiatives, particular importance is being given to the introduction of new and advanced technologies, installation of modern manufacturing machinery and equipment, adoption of automation and digital technologies in production processes, and expansion of modern quality control systems. Initiatives are also being undertaken to modernize manufacturing facilities in accordance with international standards, strengthen technological capabilities, and advance research and development activities.
Strengthening Public Healthcare and Achieving Pharmaceutical Self-Reliance
The reconstitution of the Board of Directors is expected to further strengthen the capacity of Bangladesh’s public-sector pharmaceutical industry, ensure the uninterrupted availability of quality medicines, and accelerate EDCL’s contribution to public healthcare.
Through the combined efforts of the newly constituted Board’s strategic guidance and the effective implementation of management initiatives, EDCL is expected to make further progress in productivity, quality assurance, transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency, thereby strengthening its role in the country’s pharmaceutical sector.
About Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL)
