DHAKA: The High Court on Monday (May 21) directed authorities concerned to constitute a committee for testing pasteurized milk available in the market.

An HC bench passed the order with rule following a writ filed by lawyer Md. Tanvir Ahmed. 

Food secretary, Health secretary and Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) were asked to submit report within 30 days.

The court also issued a rule asking authorities to explain within 4 weeks why the defendants’ failure to ensure safe pasteurized milk should not be declared illegal. 

Food Secretary, Health Secretary, Director General of Health Department, BSTI Director General, ICDDRB executive director were made respondents to the rule. 

Earlier on May 16, the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDRB) released a research article that published in many news media about commercially made pasteurized milk.

Lawyer Md. Tanvir Ahmed filed the writ with the High Court attaching the news articles. 

Later Tanvir told reporters that the High Court fixed June 27 for delivering further verdict in this regard.

According to research, high levels of bacteria were found in commercially made pasteurized milk which is unhealthy for direct consumption. 

BDST: 1810 HRS, MAY 21, 2018
AP/SMS