The High Court on Tuesday asked the government authorities to explain why they would not be asked to formulate a policy for introduction of paternity leave for males employed in public and private organisations in the country.
The bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque issued the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by six-month-old Nubaid Bin Saadi, son of lawyer Ishrat Hassan.
The court directed 11 respondents, including the secretary of the cabinet division, and the secretaries of the public administration and the law to respond to the rule in four weeks.
Appearing for her baby, Ishrat argued that the custom that only mothers were responsible for newborn care had changed.
She argued that the necessity of fathers during maternity was increasingly being recognised as there were hardly joint families for the couples living in the capital and other cities and towns.
She argued that over 78 countries, including India, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, have provisions for paternity leave.
The lawyer also argued that the lack of a paternity leave policy in Bangladesh conflicts with Articles 7, 27, 28, 29, 31, and 32 of the Constitution.
