School of Pharmacy Hosts Pharma Olympiad, Seminars, and Competitions
BRAC University Celebrates World Pharmacists Day 2026
- Daylong celebration at Merul Badda campus featuring a Pharma Olympiad & debate.
- Experts call for curriculum overhaul including nanorobotics & bioequivalence standards.
- Key regulatory and industry insights from UGC, DGDA, ACI, and Renata PLC.
Dhaka, Thursday (24 September): Highlighting nanorobotics applications, bioequivalence protocols, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing dynamics, and advanced pharmacy education, the School of Pharmacy at BRAC University celebrated World Pharmacists Day 2026 today, Thursday (24 September 2026), at its Merul Badda campus in Dhaka. The day was marked by a Pharma Olympiad, debate competition, video and poster presentations, and a cultural program.
Initiated by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), World Pharmacists Day 2026 is observed globally on September 25 under the theme "Empowering pharmacists for healthier futures." BRAC University hosted its commemorative events a day ahead.
Addressing a seminar organized for the occasion, Chief Guest Professor Dr. Md. Aslam Hossain, Member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, urged pharmacists to transition toward patient-oriented healthcare delivery.
Professor Dr. Sharmind Neelotpol, Chairperson of the Department of Pharmacy, delivered the keynote address. She emphasized that empowering the profession requires modernizing university curriculums, broadening career pathways, and fostering synergy between academia, industry, and regulatory authorities to convert research output into industry-ready talent. She noted that the Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh must enforce robust registration and grading standards, while the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) needs to elevate its licensing and market surveillance frameworks toward higher World Health Organization (WHO) regulatory maturity levels.
DGDA Director General (Additional Secretary) Md. Alamgir Hossain suggested that Bangladeshi pharmaceutical manufacturers should ensure bioequivalence in domestic drug supplies akin to export goods, allowing patients to safely substitute brand-name drugs with generic alternatives.
M. Mohibuz Zaman, Managing Director and CEO of ACI HealthCare Limited, mentioned that establishing domestic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufacturing facilities remains commercially challenging in Bangladesh due to the economies of scale enjoyed by global competitors. Meanwhile, Qudsiykausar Shahbaz Shaikh from the Strategic Product Development wing of Renata PLC emphasized government incentives for API production, soft-skill cultivation among students, and bridging the research gap between local and international academic institutions.
Earlier, BRAC University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Arshad M. Chowdhury recommended rethinking existing academic curriculums, pointing out how leading international institutions are pioneering nanorobotic drug delivery systems at the cellular level.
//DBTech/FFP/SME/CPM//
