Vice-President of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation and eminent physician Dr Zubaida Rahman on Monday called upon children to prepare themselves as future nation-builders, saying they would play a decisive role in shaping Bangladesh’s progress.
She made the remarks during a visit to child care and rehabilitation facilities operated by the Department of Social Services in Tejgaon, Dhaka, where she also joined an interaction programme with children.
Children at the government-run facility welcomed her with cultural performances, including dance and songs. Dr Rahman observed the performances attentively and praised their talent and enthusiasm.
Expressing optimism about their future, she said proper education and moral upbringing would enable children to excel in their respective fields and represent Bangladesh on the global stage.
She stressed the importance of honesty, discipline and strong moral values from early childhood, saying these qualities were essential for building responsible citizens.
Highlighting broader social dimensions, Zubaida noted that women constitute around 50.58 per cent of Bangladesh’s population, or approximately 90.42 million people, while children aged 0 to 14 account for 28.36 per cent of the total population.
Recalling a personal memory from her school days, she spoke about a teacher who had to leave her young daughter alone at home after school hours while working as a private tutor to support her family. She said she still remembered the child anxiously waiting by the window for her mother’s return.
Although the girl later received treatment for mental distress and went on to become well-educated and professionally established, Dr Rahman said such early childhood experiences often leave lasting emotional impact.
She observed that many working mothers in places without daycare facilities continue to face similar difficulties, despite some improvements in recent years.
Citing government data, she said 123 child development centres currently provide daycare services to only 7,360 children, which she described as a very small fraction of the country’s child population.
Dr Rahman said mothers cannot fully focus on their work while worrying about their children’s safety, while children deprived of early care miss opportunities for social interaction, learning and healthy development.
She emphasised that universal access to quality pre-primary education and early childhood development programmes was essential for building strong cognitive and social foundations.
Thanking daycare caregivers, she praised their dedication and humanitarian role, saying they help working mothers remain economically active while ensuring children grow up in safe environments.
Describing early childhood as the most critical stage of human development, she said daycare centres are not merely safe spaces but institutions that contribute directly to the nation’s future.
Addressing caregivers, she said they were simultaneously performing two vital national roles—nurturing children’s education, values and patriotism, while also supporting women’s participation in the workforce.
As part of her visit, Dr Rahman first inspected the Government Children’s Home (Girls) in Tejgaon at around 10:30 am. She later visited the Child Daycare Centre at Land Bhaban at 11:00 am and the Child Daycare Centre at Water Bhaban on Green Road at 11:30 am.
At 11:45 am, she attended a workshop titled “Early Childhood Care and Development” as chief guest at the Multipurpose Hall of Water Bhaban under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs’ daycare programme.
Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anne, State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad and State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin attended as special guests.
The workshop was chaired by Minister for Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare A Z M Zahid Hossain.
