DHAKA, Bangladesh, July 29 (NNN-BSS) – A High Court Division bench of Bangladesh, on Sunday, ordered the state agencies to stop production, distribution, sale, purchase and consumption of pasteurised milk of 14 companies, for the next five weeks over presence of detergent and antibiotics in their products.
The bench of Justice, Syed Refaat Ahmed, and Justice, Md Iqbal Kabir Lytton, passed the order upon a writ petition filed by a Supreme Court lawyer, as public-interest-litigation with the court, following local media reports that researchers found presence of antibiotics meant for humans, lead and detergent in packaged milk and dairy products of those companies.
The court also issued a rule asking the companies to explain why the presence of antibiotics and lead in the pasteurised milk should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.
According to the court ruling, the milk companies, which are registered under the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), a government agency, will have to submit a report to the court on Aug 25.
Last month, researchers at Bangladesh’s leading Dhaka University, reportedly found presence of antibiotics meant for humans, lead and detergent, in packaged milk and dairy products of some of the country’s leading milk brands.– NNN-BSS
