Dhaka: Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain today said there is no alternative to breast milk for ensuring the good health of children. He made the remark while addressing the inaugural session of the World Breastfeeding Week 2026 at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the capital.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, World Breastfeeding Week 2026 is being observed from August 1 to August 7, 2026, with the theme "Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works". The event was organized to raise public awareness about breastfeeding and was chaired by Health Secretary Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury. The function was attended by notable figures including Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Health Dr. SM Ziauddin Haider, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr. Pravath Chandra Biswas, Additional Secretary (Global Health Division) of the Health Ministry Sheikh Momena Moni, and Director of the Public Health Nutrition Institute Dr. Mohammad Yunus Ali.
Sakhawat Husain emphasized the need for increased awareness about breastfeeding, stating that the main source of a baby's growth during the first 4-5 months after birth is the mother's breast milk. He highlighted the importance of giving colostrum to the baby immediately after delivery due to its high protein content. The Health Minister expressed concern that many children are being deprived of colostrum and breast milk due to the rise in cesarean sections and a lack of awareness.
Referring to the condition of measles patients in hospitals, Husain pointed out that children's bodies are weakening due to malnutrition. He criticized the practice of mothers ceasing to breastfeed because of their own malnutrition and identified early marriage, lack of awareness, and not breastfeeding as key contributors to malnutrition.
The Health Minister also criticized the Institute of Public Health Nutrition for its inaction, stating that no effective meetings or seminars had been held in the past year to raise public awareness. He called for the development of a year-long program involving civil surgeons, deputy commissioners, and upazila-level officials to emphasize the necessity of breastfeeding and enforce it.
He stated that such initiatives would increase public awareness and contribute to safely raising future generations while decreasing child mortality rates. Addressing the issue of baby food and formula milk, Husain mentioned that there is a law regulating alternatives to breast milk in the country. He advocated for home-made balanced food over market-available powdered milk, recommending a diet of rice porridge, lentils, potatoes, and vegetables for children after six months.
In his message to mothers, the Health Minister urged them not to deprive their children of breast milk, which he described as a divine blessing. He emphasized that the natural act of a mother holding her child close offers emotional and physical comfort, urging mothers to choose this natural gift over artificial alternatives.