DHAKA: The High Court has issued a rule asking the government why it should not be directed to take necessary steps for setting up breastfeeding corners at government and autonomous offices, shopping malls, airports, bus stops and railway stations across the country.

The HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman on Sunday (Oct 27) issued the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by Advocate Ishrat Hossain. 

The Cabinet Secretary, Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Health Secretary, Public Works Secretary, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary and Chairman of the Civil Authority have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.

In last week, a woman and her nine-month-old child filed the writ petition with the High Court 

In the rule, the court also asked the authorities concern of the government to show-cause why the women and children affairs ministry would not be ordered to formulate a guideline to establish breastfeeding corners and baby care corners at public places.

Barrister Abdul Halim moved for the petition in the court. Deputy Attorney General Saifuddin Khaled stood for the state.

According to the petition, the mothers feel uneasy to feed their children at the public places like shopping malls, airports, bus stoppages and railway stations workplaces, where breastfeeding and baby care corners do not exist.

BDST: 1351 HRS, OCT 27, 2019
RS