The High Court directed the authorities concerned to stop production, distribution, sale, purchase and consumption of pasteurised milk of 14 companies for the next five weeks over presence of antibiotics and lead in the milk, which are harmful for human body. The HC ordered the government and the 14 milk producing companies to submit a report to the court on August 25 after complying with the order. However a verdict of the Supreme Court later reversed the order against state-owned Milk Vita, and two others.

The HC also issued a rule asking them to explain why the presence of antibiotics and lead in the pasteurised milk should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional. About a month ago, Dhaka University researchers found presence of antibiotics, lead and detergent, in packaged milk and dairy products of some of the top brands, including Milk Vita, Pran, Aarong, Igloo and Farm Fresh, among others.

The Police Bureau of Investigation submitted a charge sheet, without naming any policemen, in the case over the attacks on Santals in Gaibandha more than two and a half years ago. A video clip of that time, which was telecast on several television channels, showed that some police members were involved in torching Santal houses in the district's Gobindaganj upazila in November 2016.

Even a police probe report, submitted to the High Court in March, 2017, found in-volvement of two policemen in setting fire to Santal houses. Earlier in January that year, a judicial magistrate in a probe found involvement of three police personnel and some local miscreants in the incident. The Santals in Gobindaganj upazila rejected the 50-page charge sheet against 90 people.

The Myanmar government will consider Rohingyas who return to the country as foreign nationals, said the Myanmar Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Myint Thu to reporters, after a meeting with Hindu Rohingyas at the Kutupalong D-4 camp in Ukhia yesterday. Detailing his government's position of the issue of Rohingya repartition from Bangladesh, Myint Thu said there are three types of citizenships according to Myanmar Citizenship Act 1982.

According to those, whoever has been living in Myanmar for three generations would be entitled to get "neutralised citizenship". Even if the Rohingyas are not direct Myanmar citizens, they will be allowed to live legally in Myanmar as foreign citizens according to clause three of the citizenship act and they will get a national ID card. Understandably, the Myanmar delegation's meetings over two days with Rohingya leaders failed to make any headway on the issue of repatriation.

The Anti-Corruption Commission arrested former RAJUK assistant director Shah M Sadrul Alam on charges of his alleged involvement in design forgery of burnt-down FR Tower in the capital's Banani. An ACC team led by its deputy director Abu Bakar Siddik arrested Sadrul Alam form Banani area.

On June 25, the ACC filed two corruption cases against 23 people including two former Rajuk chairmen and the owner of FR Tower on charges of corruption for allowing the construction of additional floors to the building in two phases. One of the two cases was filed by the ACC accusing 20 people on charges of constructing and selling additional floors from 19th to 23rd floors at FR Tower, violating rules set by Rajuk. Sadrul was arrested as part of this case.