The High Court on Sunday asked the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) to submit a list containing the names of farms engaged producing and supplying milk and curd in city without having any license. It also asked the BSTI to submit a report before it in this regard within two weeks. The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and KM Hafizul Alam gave the directive during hearing a Suo Moto rule on this issue.
Earlier on May 15 the HC asked the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) and BSTI to submit a report by June 23 containing a list of the companies involved in adulteration of milk, dairy products after examining those and what legal action taken against them. HC warning companies adulterating milk and curd, whoever they were, would not be spared and they must be punished.
Observing that none will be allowed to play lives and health of the people as safe food is a fundamental right of people, the court asked, “How will the nation be built if health of its future generation is not sound?” Making the observation, the HC sought reports detailing the names and relevant particulars of companies and persons responsible for adulterating raw cow milk, curd and fodder and the steps taken against them.
It also asked not to disturb Prof Dr Shahnnila Ferdousi, chief of the National Food Safety Laboratory (NFSL) about her report. As per HC order Shahnnila Ferdousi appeared before the court on May 21 along with the study report prepared by the organisation. BSFA submitted a report on May 8 which said harmful chemical lead and antibiotics were found in 96 samples of unpacked milk collected from the market.
Besides, adulteration was evident in 18 of the 31 samples of packaged milk but the names of the milk-producing companies responsible for the adulteration were absent in the report. According to the BSTI, the institution provided license to only 18 farms to produce pasteurized milk. On other hand, as per HC directive BST collected 305 sample of milk. Later, the institution examined the sample and found that two farms produced milk as substandard.
On February 11, the High Court directed the authorities concerned to conduct a survey to determine how much cow milk, dairy products and cow fodders containing bacteria, antibiotic, lead and pesticides are supplied across the country. Different national dailies published reports on February 10 citing survey findings on the presence of pesticides, antibiotic and bacteria in raw cow.