Breastfeeding room kept locked at all hours

The authority of Chattogram Railway Station was praised for introducing two breastfeeding corners in two waiting rooms six months ago.

But the noble initiative has fallen on the wayside as the doors of the corners remain locked almost all the time.

Mahbubur Rahman, the station master, said, "The breastfeeding corner has to be kept locked to prevent rag pickers and drug addicts from entering."

"But we open the door if someone wants to use it," he added.

The keys to the breastfeeding corners are kept to a bearer of the waiting room. But it is hard to find them in times of need.

Photo: Minhaj Uddin

Nusrat Sultana, a Dhaka bound passenger sitting in the first-class waiting room, said, "It is ice that there is a breastfeeding corner here, but at the same time, it is also frustrating. I could not find anyone to open the lock after looking many times."

The overall environment surrounding the breastfeeding corners are also not up to the mark.

This correspondent found a tea-seller lying on the floor in front of the locked breastfeeding corner of the second-class waiting room at 2pm on Thursday (November 28). Several people were also sitting by the side of the corner.

The breastfeeding corner of the first-class waiting room was also locked.

The station master opened the door after summoning a bearer who brought the key. The room was full of sleeping material of the railway staff.

The breastfeeding corner which is situated in restroom assigned for first-class has beddings inside it. Photo: Minhaj Uddin

Jesmin Sultana Paru, president of Consumers Association of Bangladesh's Chattogram city chapter, said, "If the Chattogram railway station has breastfeeding centres and these are used for other purposes, then that will be an injustice."

She said, "The authority should ensure proper use of the corners."

Chattogram Divisional Railway Manager Borhan Uddin, said, "It is not correct that mothers are not getting the service of the breastfeeding corners."

"A person in duty has the keys to the corners. Anyone can use it when necessary," he added.