Staff Reporter:
Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister AZM Zahid Hossain has said Bangladesh Shishu Academy will be developed as a safe haven for nurturing the inherent talents, free thinking and mental development of every child of the country.
He said this during a visit to Bangladesh Shishu Academy and a views exchange meeting with its officials on the occasion of the academy’s golden jubilee celebrations, said an official handout.
The meeting was held as part of special preparations to ensure progress in organising programmes marking the golden jubilee of academy on October 6. The day will also be observed as Children’s Rights Day and World Children’s Week.
The meeting was informed that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will attend the programme as chief guest.
During the visit, the minister inspected the academy’s main auditorium, library, Braille corner, storeroom and boundary wall, as well as the surrounding areas.
Dr Zahid closely observed the overall environment, cleanliness and infrastructural condition of the academy and instructed the authorities to carry out necessary renovation works to ensure a condu-cive environment for children.
Regarding infrastructure development and modernisation of the academy, he set a specific dead-line for the Public Works Department and Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) to bring the academy’s long-unused electrical substation into operation immediately.
The minister also instructed the authorities to install modern solar panels on the rooftop immedi-ately to ensure an environment-friendly and sustainable power management system.
Besides, to expand educational opportunities for children with special needs, he stressed increas-ing the collection of Braille books at the Braille corner and adding assistive technologies to make it more child-friendly and inclusive.
The meeting was informed that detailed discussions were held with representatives of Dhaka Met-ropolitan Police (DMP) to strengthen overall security in and around the academy premises, includ-ing the adjacent Dhaka University area in view of the Prime Minister’s visit and the national-level programme.
Dr Zahid instructed the authorities to establish an integrated security cordon, ensure specific traf-fic management and maintain round-the-clock surveillance at different points along the academy’s boundary to prevent any untoward situation.
Chief engineers of the Public Works Department and DPDC, Dhaka University proctor, Director General and senior officials of Bangladesh Shishu Academy, members of the academy’s governing body, senior DMP officials and senior officials of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs were present.
