Paternity leave is not necessary: Health Adviser

Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum believes that paternity leave is not necessary.

She said: "I do not think there is a need for a separate paternity leave. If leave is to be given, then the father should also give time to the child."

She said this at a workshop organized on the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week at the CIRDAP Auditorium in the capital on Monday (August 18).

Health Education and Family Welfare Department organized this workshop in collaboration with the Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF).
This time the theme is - Prioritize breastfeeding, create a sustainable supportive environment.

The adviser said: "I myself am a mother. I do not think there is a need for a separate paternity leave. However, if it is given, there should be conditions—how long the father takes care the child, helped the mother—these should be reported in writing."

Regarding breastfeeding, the adviser said: "Rather than pushing children towards powdered milk, the introduction of breast milk should be increased. For this, the participation of everyone from doctors, NGOs, religious leaders to the media is essential."

Professor SK Roy, Chairman of the Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation, presented the keynote address of the workshop.

He said that the rate of breastfeeding in the country is decreasing. In 2017-18, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months was 65 percent, which decreased to 58 percent in the 2022 survey.

According to him, the reason for this is the lack of awareness activities, non-implementation of the Breast-Milk Substitute (BMS) Act, and insufficient leave for working mothers.

In the chairman’s speech, Secretary of the Health Education and Family Welfare Department Md. Sarwar Bari said: "If we want to build a nation with talent, we must ensure that children are breastfed."

The program was also addressed by Health Services Division Secretary Md. Saidur Rahman, Director General of the Family Planning Department Ashrafi Ahmed, Director General of the Health Education Department Professor Nazmul Hossain, General Secretary of the BBF Professor Saria Tasnim, and others.

The Women's Affairs Reform Commission has recommended the formulation of a new law to ensure two weeks of leave with full pay for paternity leave. The commission submitted its final report to Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Sunday.