Bangavax trial: Gazipur locals ‘harass’ Globe Biotech officials trying to capture monkeys

Five employees of Globe Biotech Limited were allegedly harassed by locals when they tried to capture wild monkeys at Barmi Bazar, under Sreepur upazila of Gazipur, for research purposes.

The pharmaceutical company needs monkeys for clinical trial of the coronavirus vaccine Bangavax.

Globe Pharmaceuticals Ltd Media Consultant Md Anisur Rahman said, "The efficacy of Bangavax needs to be verified through testing on animals before human trial. We went to catch monkeys with authorities' permission."

They managed to catch 10 monkeys from the Barmi Bazar area yesterday, but some locals demanded money, Md Anisur claimed.

"When we refused to pay, we were physically assaulted. At that time, some locals snatched the monkeys along with our money," the media consultant added.

However, the locals claimed that the officials caught a total of 14 monkeys by using food as bait. The absence of representative of the local administration raised suspicion, they said. The locals then took the officials to the Barmi Union Parishad office.

"None of those who came to catch the monkeys were assaulted. We also did not snatch the monkeys from them. These are false allegations. They came to catch the monkeys without the permission of the local authorities," said Abul Hashem, president of the Barmi Bazar Traders' Association.

Tabibur Rahman, Gazipur Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park officer-in-charge and assistant forest conservator, said, "Bangladesh Medical Research Council instructed to test the Bangavax vaccine on monkeys before applying on humans. Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change permitted Globe Biotech Limited to catch 56 monkeys in this regard."

Globe Biotech has already collected 30 monkeys from Bhawal National Park and Safari Park in three days since June 29. They went to catch other monkeys from Barmi Bazar area.

The locals became agitated as they tried to catch the monkeys without informing local authorities, Tabibur said, adding that police rescued the pharmaceutical officials but they couldn't manage to take the monkeys.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sreepur Police Station Khandaker Imam Hossain said, "The locals apprehended the officials and released the monkeys."

Two of the monkeys fell ill due to anesthesia. Later they were released after giving treatment.

"Eight officials of Globe Biotech Pharmaceuticals were rescued and brought to the police station. Later they were released after verification of the no-objection papers of the forest ministry and forest department," the OC said.