A pivotal moment in the global breastfeeding movement came in 1990 with the Innocenti Declaration, where representatives from 158 countries, including Bangladesh, participated. Professor M Q K Talukder, as Chairperson of the BBF, represented Bangladesh as a government delegate and signatory of the declaration, further advancing the country’s commitment to promoting and protecting breastfeeding.

BBF played a critical role in the development of national laws and policies aimed at protecting breastfeeding. It contributed significantly to the creation of the 1984 ordinance regulating the marketing and distribution of commercial (BMS) infant foods and supported the establishment of Baby Friendly Hospitals throughout the country.

A significant milestone was achieved in 1992 when both the Prime Minister and President of Bangladesh signed the Dhaka Declaration, a landmark commitment to improving breastfeeding practices nationwide. This declaration outlined a comprehensive strategy for promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding, aligning the country’s initiatives with global movements focused on maternal and child health. The Dhaka Declaration underscored the government’s commitment to reducing infant mortality and malnutrition by enhancing breastfeeding practices and removing barriers at all levels of society.

Following the Dhaka Declaration, efforts to promote breastfeeding gained significant momentum. The Campaign for Protection and Promotion of Breastfeeding (CPPBF) eventually evolved into the Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF). Since then, BBF has played a pivotal role in advocating for breastfeeding, conducting research, and providing essential support services to mothers and children across the country.

In 1992, the Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) spearheaded the inaugural World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) in Bangladesh. This historic event was graced by several international breastfeeding pioneers, including Professor D.B. Jelliffe, Professor Raj Anand, Felicity King, Ann Lisevenson, Ibrahim Anwar, and Dr. Arun Gupta and others.

BBF has been instrumental in shaping national breastfeeding policies, training healthcare professionals, and ensuring that hospitals and communities provide breastfeeding-friendly environments. The organization implemented breastfeeding activities under programs like BINP (1992) and NNP (1997) with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW). BBF was officially registered as a non-governmental organization (NGO) in 1995 under joint stock, and the NGO Bureau in 2006, further solidifying its role as a leading organization in the protection and promotion of breastfeeding in Bangladesh.

However, over time, financial constraints limited BBF’s capacity to operate nationwide, and formula milk companies’ activities increased, negatively impacting breastfeeding rates and maternal and child nutritional outcomes, as highlighted in BDHS  2022 reports.