Fresh samples of milk collected for test

A five-member committee yesterday collected samples of the eight milk-powder brands tested positive for toxic melamine to retest them at laboratories home and abroad for confirmation.
The committee handed in the samples to a 12-member expert committee formed yesterday, a commerce ministry official said.
The expert committee will send the samples in a day or two to laboratories of Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BSCSIR) and Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) and to an internationally recognised laboratory abroad.
The expert committee, headed by Mohammad Ali Patwary, joint secretary at the commerce ministry, will supervise the whole issue as to the presence of melamine in milk powder.
It will submit the new findings, with comments, to the government in seven working days. The government will make its decision on the eight brands on the basis of the report.
The commerce ministry official said other imported brands of milk powder will also be gradually be sent abroad for melamine tests.
Other members of the committee are BSTI Director General Azmal Hossain, Deputy Director Dr Ashish Ratan Sen, BAEC scientific officers Dr Didarul Alam Chowdhury and Dr SM Salehuddin, BCSIR scientific officers Matiur Rahim, Dr Nasim Sultana and Dr Umme Ara, child specialist at national nutrition institute Dr Mukim Ali Biswas, two chemistry department teachers of Dhaka University, and Ziaul Abedin of Plasma Plus, a private laboratory.
The decision to retest the brands were taken following confusion arising from different test results from different laboratories.
The Dhaka University chemistry department found unacceptable levels of melamine in eight popular brands--Nido fortified instant, Red Cow, Yashili 1, Sweet Baby, Diploma, Anline, Yashili 2 and Dano.
Private laboratory Plasma Plus found the toxic element in one of the four brands it tested while the BSTI said it found melamine in Yashili 1.
Meanwhile, different women and children organisations yesterday demanded that the government immediately impose restrictions on the milk brands found to be tainted with melamine beyond tolerable level.
"The detection of melamine in a few milk-powder brands has endangered the food security of children and the elderly," said a press statement from the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association (BNWLA).
It called for immediate measures against importers of the tainted brands and increasing awareness among people about baby foods.
Children organisation Shishu Kishore Mela formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club in the capital demanding punishment to those responsible for mixing melamine in powdered milk and ensuring children's food security, said a press release.
It criticised the government for not showing responsibility regarding the health issue.
Sammilito Nari Samaj, a women's rights group, also made similar demands.