Dhaka: Bangladesh at present exports medicines to 107 countries, including Germany, United States, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands and Denmark, said Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed at Parliament on Sunday.

Responding to a question from Hazi Md Salim, an independent lawmaker from Dhaka-7 constituency, Tofail Ahmed said the present government took pragmatic steps to turn the growing pharmaceutical sector into a major export earning sector.

The minister was answering to a query during the question and answer session in the House with Deputy Speaker Fazley Rabbi Mia was in the chair.

Tofail, in reply to a scripted question of treasury bench member M Abdul Latif from Chittagong-11 constituency, informed the parliament that the export earnings tremendously increased despite the frequent hartal and non-stop shutdown progarmme enforced by the BNP-led 20-Party alliance since 6 January, this year.

On a question from Mizanur Rahman on behalf of MA Malek of Dhaka-20 constituency, the minister said Bangladesh also exports vegetables and some food items including potato, tomato and dry foods to different countries in the Middle East including Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE).