HC rules over breastfeeding corner at public places

The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain within four weeks why it should not be directed to set up breastfeeding corners and baby care corners at public and autonomous institutions, workplaces, hospitals, airports and other gathering places across the country. In response to a writ petition, the HC bench comprising Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman issued the rule.

In the rule, the court asked the authorities concerned of the government to show-cause why the women and children affairs ministry should not be directed to formulate a guideline to establish breastfeeding corners and baby care corners at public places and private institutions.The cabinet, women and children affairs, health, social welfare, and civil aviation and tourism secretaries have been made respondents, among others, to reply to the rule within four weeks.

Supreme Court lawyer Ishrat Hassan filed the petition on behalf of her nine-month-old child Umair Bin Sadi seeking HC directive in this regard. Earlier on October 24, the writ petition was filed with the HC saying that the mothers feel uneasy to feed their children at the workplaces, shopping malls, airports, bus stoppages and railway stations as there is no specific breastfeeding and baby care corners.

In the petition, the mother said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2009 had directed the authorities concerned to establish breastfeeding corners and day care centres at all public and private workplaces in order to ensure safe

motherhood and to grow up the children in a beautiful and healthy environment. But the authorities concerned failed to comply with the PM directive despite the lapses of 10 years, the

petition said. Barrister Abdul Halim appeared to court for the petitioners while Deputy Attorney General Saifuddin Khaled represented the state.

After the HC rule, Barrister Halim told reporters that Ishrat Hassan went to Cox's Bazar with her child but her US Bangla Airlines flight back to Dhaka was delayed for five hours. During her long wait, she couldn't find any breastfeeding corner which naturally left her in a difficult position. The senior lawyer pointed out that although most places have designated smoking areas, there are no breast feeding or baby care zones anywhere in the country. Hence, the public interest litigation has been filed seeking HC directive over the matter, he added.

HC rules over breastfeeding corner at public places

The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain within four weeks why it should not be directed to set up breastfeeding corners and baby care corners at public and autonomous institutions, workplaces, hospitals, airports and other gathering places across the country. In response to a writ petition, the HC bench comprising Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman issued the rule. In the rule, the court asked the authorities concerned of the government to show-cause why the women and children affairs ministry should not be directed to formulate a guideline to establish breastfeeding corners and baby care corners at public places and private institutions.The cabinet, women and children affairs, health, social welfare, and civil aviation and tourism secretaries have been made respondents, among others, to reply to the rule within four weeks. Supreme Court lawyer Ishrat Hassan filed the petition on behalf of her nine-month-old child Umair Bin Sadi seeking HC directive in this regard. Earlier on October 24, the writ petition was filed with the HC saying that the mothers feel uneasy to feed their children at the workplaces, shopping malls, airports, bus stoppages and railway stations as there is no specific breastfeeding and baby care corners. In the petition, the mother said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2009 had directed the authorities concerned to establish breastfeeding corners and day care centres at all public and private workplaces in order to ensure safe motherhood and to grow up the children in a beautiful and healthy environment. But the authorities concerned failed to comply with the PM directive despite the lapses of 10 years, the petition said. Barrister Abdul Halim appeared to court for the petitioners while Deputy Attorney General Saifuddin Khaled represented the state. After the HC rule, Barrister Halim told reporters that Ishrat Hassan went to Coxs Bazar with her child but her US Bangla Airlines flight back to Dhaka was delayed for five hours. During her long wait, she couldnt find any breastfeeding corner which naturally left her in a difficult position. The senior lawyer pointed out that although most places have designated smoking areas, there are no breast feeding or baby care zones anywhere in the country. Hence, the public interest litigation has been filed seeking HC directive over the matter, he added.