Dhaka, Apr 23 (UNB)- Speakers at a roundtable discussion on Tuesday suggested that the potentials of dairy sector should be utilized by providing grants to the farmers and reducing the production cost of milk.

The theme of the roundtable programme was “Present and future of dairy sector of Bangladesh” was organised by daily newspaper Prothom Alo in association with PRAN Dairy Ltd, at the newspaper's office in the capital. Prothom Alo Associate Editor Abdul Kaium moderated the roundtable discussion.

Dr Hiresh Ranjan Bhowmik, Director General at Department of Livestock Services, said the main barrier of country’s dairy sector is the production cost and another problem is maintaining the quality.

Ghulam Rahman, President of Consumers Association of Bangladesh, said the per capita consumption of milk in Bangladesh is below the required amount.

The demand of milk will increases if people are aware regarding the nutrition milk contains, he said.

Eleash Mridha, Managing Director of PRAN Group, said there is no alternative of taking concerted effort for attaining self-sufficiency in dairy industry.

Mohammad Imran Hossain, president of Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association, said, In India, farmers get subsidy for producing milk but Bangladeshi farmers don’t get that.

Shafiqul Islam Laskar, Director General of Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, Advocate Umme Kulsum Smrity, President, National Dairy Development Forum and Md Muniruzzaman, Executive Director at PRAN Dairy, spoke at the roundtable discussion among others.