At a workshop held at the CIRDAP auditorium to mark World Breastfeeding Week 2025, the question of paternity leave sparked debate. Health Ministry advisor Nurjahan Begum dismissed the idea as unnecessary unless fathers could provide written proof of their time caring for mothers and newborns.
The workshop also highlighted Bangladesh’s broader crisis of weak law enforcement. Nurjahan Begum remarked, “We have laws, but no obligation to follow them,” citing examples from public smoking to hospitals.
Organized by the Department of Health Education and Family Welfare in collaboration with the Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF), the event carried this year’s theme “Prioritize breastfeeding, create a sustainable, supportive environment.”
Alarming trends were presented: BBF Secretary General Prof. Saria Tasneem reported an 8% decline in breastfeeding rates between 2017 and 2022. BBF Chairperson Prof. SK Roy stressed that ensuring colostrum within the first hour of birth could save up to 51,000 children’s lives each year.
Senior officials, including Md. Saidur Rahman and Md. Sarwar Bari, urged stronger social commitment and awareness, stressing that breast milk is vital for both child survival and brain development. Speakers also pointed to the role of media, mosques, and temples in building public awareness, warning that without a broader social shift, children’s right to breast milk will remain neglected.
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