High Court seeks DU report on packaged milk

The High Court yesterday sought the report of Dhaka University’s Pharmacy Faculty and Biomedical Research Centre that found detergent and antibiotics for humans in packaged milk available in kitchen markets and grocery shops. 

The antibiotics include levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and azithromycin that are used mainly to treat bacterial infections.

HC asked lawyer of Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute (BSTI), Barrister Sarkar MR Hassan, to collect the DU researchers’ report on packaged milk and submit it to the court on July 7.

The HC bench of Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir Lytton passed the order while hearing a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Tanvir Ahmed.

During the hearing, the HC bench accepted a test report of BSTI which said it has not detected any harmful substance in fourteen brands of milk. 

After testing seven samples of widely-sold pasteurised milk and three samples of unpasteurised milk, the Pharmacy Faculty and Biomedical Research Centre of DU in a report said the researchers found detergent and antibiotics in packaged milk.

The study began in May last year and samples were collected from shops in Shahbagh, Chankharpool and Palashi in the capital. Prof ABM Faroque, director of Biomedical Research Centre, unveiled the findings at a press conference on June 25. 

Earlier in February, BSTI’s own survey found lead and pesticides in milk marketed by top brands. It also found that the majority of raw and packaged milk do not meet the quality control authority’s safety standards.

Consumption of detergents, lead and pesticides can damage lungs, kidneys and liver.  

Interestingly, however, the BSTI on June 25 submitted a report to the HC saying its test did not detect any hazardous substance in pasteurised milk of 14 brands, including some top ones.

The BSTI conducted the test in line with an HC order on May 21 last year.