Milk collection stopped at Milk Vita factory

The factory authorities have stopped milk collection at Milk Vita factory at Baghabari of Sirajganj as some sacked employees held demonstrations in front of the factory gate demanding their reinstatement.
Some 70 workers, earlier sacked by the authorities, have been taking part in a non-stop sit-in programme in front of the factory gate since Wednesday demanding their reinstatement.
As a result, there has been a deadlock in the supply chain and transportation of milk. The authorities are unable to supply any milk or milk products to the capital Dhaka.
Now, they have stopped collecting milk from the local farmers, causing farmers to suffer badly.
The Milk Vita factory collects an amount of 150 thousand to 170 thousand litres of milk everyday from the local farmers. As the collection has been halted, the farmers are forced to sell their milk at the local markets in a lower price.
Md Rafiqul Islam, proprietor of Rayhan farm in Shahzadpur upazila, said 1,000 litres of milk is produced everyday at his farm.
"The Milk Vita factory has stopped collecting milk for a week now. So, I am selling milk at Tk 20 per litre in the local market. Usually, I got Tk 42 to Tk 47 per litres from Milk Vita based on the fat level. Meanwhile, the price of cattle feeds have increased by Tk 200 to Tk 300 per sack," he said referring to his loss.
He said he has been selling milk at half of his production cost at times. "I have to go bankrupt if this continues for long," he added.
Idris Ali, manager of Milk Vita factory, said they have been forced to stop collecting milk as they cannot send milk products to the capital Dhaka due to the protest programme.