Bangladesh steps into global antibiotics market with landmark penicillin plant

Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical landscape is on the cusp of a milestone. Tucked inside the country’s largest industrial hub, the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) in Chattogram division, a gleaming new complex is rising that could redefine the nation’s role in the global medicine trade.

By the end of this year, Healthcare Life Science Ltd (HLSL), a fresh venture of Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Ltd, plans to open the doors to a state-of-the-art penicillin antibiotics facility, the first of its kind in Bangladesh.

Spread across 40 acres of coastal industrial land, the plant stands as one of the most ambitious pharmaceutical infrastructure projects the country has ever seen. Backed by a hefty US$50 million investment, the project broke ground in 2022 and has been steadily advancing toward the finish line.

Now in its final stretch, the site is undergoing equipment installation and qualification, with full validation expected by November 2025. If all goes to plan, the first batches of locally made penicillin antibiotics will roll out by December, a turning point for both the company and the industry at large.

The first phase of the project has developed seven acres of the total land, dedicated exclusively to the production of penicillin antibiotics. The facility will manufacture around 15 products in various forms, including tablets, capsules, prefilled syringes (PFS) and injectables.

Designed to meet international standards, the facility is being built in compliance with FDA, WHO-GMP, and EU-GMP guidelines, making it eligible to export to both regulated markets like the United States and Europe, and emerging markets across Asia and Africa.

Strong focus on export and future expansion

HLSL is positioning itself as an export-driven manufacturer. According to company projections, export earnings are expected to reach Tk50 crore annually in the first three years of operation and Tk100-200 crore annually by the fourth and fifth years.

The remaining 30 acres of land have been earmarked for future expansion, with plans to introduce biotechnology-based and life-saving medicines, including complex generics and high-end therapies.

The project is a significant step in diversifying Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical offerings, particularly in critical care and specialty antibiotics, which remain in high demand globally, said Muhammad Zahid Al Beruni, head of operations at Healthcare Life Science Limited.

“This facility is not just a factory, it’s a statement that Bangladesh is ready to move up the value chain in global pharma,” he said.

Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical sector already meets 97% of domestic demand and exports to over 150 countries, but Al Beruni believes the addition of high-end penicillin production will significantly strengthen the nation’s credibility in international markets.

“As global demand for affordable, high-quality antibiotics continues to grow, this facility positions Bangladesh to take on a larger role in the international pharmaceutical supply chain,” he said, adding that HLSL’s focus on compliance and advanced manufacturing could make it a cornerstone of the country’s next-generation pharma industry.

The newly developed facility of Healthcare Life Science Ltd is designed to manufacture sensitive penicillin-based antibiotics across a diverse range of dosage forms, ensuring both flexibility and high-volume production capacity.

The plant will be capable of producing 60 million tablets, 90 million capsules, four million units of powder for suspension, four million vials of injectable powder, and four million liquid ampoules annually.

This robust manufacturing setup is geared to serve both the domestic and international markets, supporting the company’s vision of becoming a globally competitive pharmaceutical exporter.

The initial product portfolio includes over 15 specialised formulations, encompassing both human and veterinary products, many of which are targeted specifically for export markets.

The HLSL facility stands out as a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing site, purpose-built with a dedicated penicillin block that fully complies with US FDA and other global regulatory standards.

Emphasising sustainability, the plant operates with zero toxic emissions and is designed to be entirely eco-friendly, ensuring 100% compliance with health and safety standards for both people and the environment. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the facility also houses advanced Research & Development (R&D) and Quality Control (QC) infrastructure to support innovation and stringent quality assurance.

With a strategic focus on producing high-value, sensitive medicines, HLSL is poised to cater to both local healthcare needs and expand aggressively into regulated international markets.

Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Limited (HPL) is making a landmark investment of $423.78 million to establish a large-scale industrial facility within the NSEZ, located in Mirsarai, Chattogram.

Spread across 40 acres of land, the project is expected to create employment for over 7,200 people and will consist of five distinct manufacturing units, focusing on export-oriented formulations, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and biotech products.

The initiative is a part of Bangladesh’s broader industrialisation strategy spearheaded by the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), which is actively working to attract both local and foreign investments.

The NSEZ, currently the largest industrial city in South Asia, spans of 33,805 acres across Mirsarai, Sitakunda, and Feni’s Sonagazi sub-districts, offering strategic advantages such as proximity to the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, modern infrastructure, and strong policy support.

With its coastal location along the Sandeep channel of the Bay of Bengal and commitment to environmentally safe industrialisation, the NSEZ has quickly become a magnet for large-scale investments like HPL’s, reinforcing Bangladesh’s emergence as a regional manufacturing hub.