Melamine is a nitrogen rich white crystalline compound added to milk powder by dishonest producers to give fake appearance of higher level of protein. This compound in milk has adverse effect on renal system, particularly of children as reported in China and other parts of the world.
Bangladesh has to import more than forty thousand tons of milk powder and the presence of melamine in some imported milk brands has created panic among the people.
Prohibiting sale of such contaminated milk caused scarcity in milk supply and reduced dairy product business substantially.
Bangladesh has the potential to produce enough milk from cow, buffalo and goat. We need a white revolution through a pragmatic policy and action programme for the production and distribution of sufficient quantity of milk and its products under strict monitoring and testing. This revolution will improve our health and nutrition due to self sufficiency in milk, save foreign exchange, generate employment, promote dairy business, and provide organic manure for soil fertility, besides other intangible benefits.