HC asks why paternity leave policy not to be formed

The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule asking the concerned parties as to why a policy should not be made to provide paternity leave to male employees of public and private institutions in the country.

A High Court Division Bench comprising Justice Naima Haider and Justice Qazi Zinat Hoque passed the order on Tuesday, reports BSS.

The cabinet secretary and secretaries of the Public Administration and Law Ministries have been asked to respond to this rule and submit a report on the overall progress of the policy making within the next 3 months.

Supreme Court lawyer Ishrat Hasan filed the writ on July 3.

According to the writ, a father also plays a vital part in taking care of a newborn and the mother, as it takes a long time for the mother to recover, especially after a cesarean delivery.

Fathers often find it difficult to take care of their wives and newborns as they don't get paternity leave. This sometimes hampers the proper healing of a mother and deprives the newborn of being nurtured by the father.