The government has no immediate plan to establish day-care centres at the upazila level, Minister for Women and Children Affairs AZM Zahid Hossain told parliament.
On Monday, responding to a written question from Naogaon-4 MP Ikramul Bari Tipu, the minister said that while upazila-level centres are not currently planned, the ministry is considering gradually setting up one modern day-care centre and one working women’s hostel in each district.
The minister informed parliament that a total of 64 day-care centres are currently operating under the ministry. Of these, 43 are funded through the revenue budget, 20 through the development budget, and one is located at the National Women’s Organisation headquarters.
Under a project approved for the 2025-26 fiscal year titled “Establishment of 60 Day-Care Centres under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs”, work is ongoing to establish another 60 centres.
The minister said that to ensure the safety and security of children of working and labouring mothers, Naogaon district already has one day-care centre under a project establishing 20 centres in the district.
“If day-care centres are established at the upazila level in the future, Manda upazila will be given priority,” the minister added.
The minister noted that the government recognises the necessity of providing accommodation and security to working women who contribute to the country’s economic growth, which has prompted the district-level planning.
