
The rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the country has continued to drop over the past five years, raising concerns over children’s health and the nation’s future.
The concern was once again highlighted on Monday at an event comprising a discussion and a workshop organised by the Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka city.
Speakers at the event observed that the rate of exclusive breastfeeding of children for the first six month after birth was in decline over the past five years.
They said that for this alarming situation frequent violation of the Breast-milk Substitutes Act 2013, which controlled the sale of formula and other baby food for children under-five, played a significant role.
The speakers alleged that the act seriously lacked enforcement by the authorities and also blamed healthcare professionals and companies for violating the act, saying that their activities were heavily contributing to the decline of exclusive breastfeeding.
Bangladesh saw a steady decline since 2018 after exclusive breastfeeding rose to 65 per cent that year, dropping to 58 per cent by 2022.
Health rights activists blamed the drop on multiple factors, including the government’s failure to enforce the BMS Act, limited support for breastfeeding mothers, aggressive marketing by formula companies, and a general lack of public awareness.
Nurjahan Begum, adviser to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, admitted at the discussion that not only the act, but several other important health-related laws also were poorly implemented.
‘We have over 50,000 health workers reaching every corner of the country—they could be a powerful force for raising awareness,’ she said.
The 2013 act prohibits advertisement and promotion of breast milk substitutes, baby foods, children’s food supplements, and related feeding equipment.
Violation of the law, however, is commonplace.
‘There is no enforcement of the law,’ said BBF chairperson Professor SK Roy.
He also cited a 2022 UNICEF report according to which 57 per cent health professionals in the country violated the law by recommending formula to mothers.
BBF secretary general Saria Tasnim said that such practices were widespread among companies and retailers.
‘We have yet to see any punishment for the law violators,’ she added, noting a sharp rise in the violation of the act on the social media.
Health education secretary Md Sarwar Bari acknowledged the issue and said that the government was now more committed to reversing the trend.
Director of the Directorate General of Medical Education, Dr Nazmul Hosain, at the event announced plans to establish daycare centres in all medical college hospitals to support working mothers.
Representatives from the UNICEF, World Health Organisation and other national and international organisations also attended the event.