Staff reporter:
Minister for Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain today said the government will bring necessary change through updating the existing Child Daycare Center Act 2021 aiming to ensure safe and quality services for the children of the working mothers.
The minister said this as the chief guest while addressing the inaugural function of two-day “National Child Care Summit 2026” at the Bangla Academy here.
At the same time, the government is also working relentlessly to remove all kinds of barriers to women’s education. The government wants to do whatever is beneficial for the people.
Professor Dr Zahid said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in his election manifesto, pledged to provide free education up to the postgraduate level to ensure wider access to higher education for women.
Besides, in line with the manifesto’s commitment, daycare centers are being established at workplaces and their number is being gradually increased so that working mothers can perform their professional responsibilities with peace of mind and comfort.
He expressed hope that the ongoing initiatives would bring further significant improvements in the country’s childcare management system by next year.
Referring to the fundamental responsibilities of the state, the minister said the government would provide necessary financial and policy support for any public welfare-oriented and good initiative, but successful implementation of such initiatives was a collective responsibility.
He sought everyone’s cooperation in this regard.
At the programme, the minister answered to various questions from guests and participants and visited the exhibition stalls on childcare at the premises of Bangla Academy.
Vice-Chancellor of BRAC University Professor Dr. Syed Farhat Anwar, World Bank Country Director in Bangladesh Jean Pesme, senior officials of BRAC, local and foreign representatives, representatives of various national and international non-governmental development organizations (NGOs), and women and child rights activists, among others, were present at the event.
