Published: October 30, 2025, 03:04 PM
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has pledged to make childcare a core part of Bangladesh’s economic growth strategy, unveiling plans for nationwide daycare centres and incentives to support working mothers — a move he says will unlock women’s potential and boost national productivity.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday expressed his strong support for women’s active participation in economic activities, and envisioned enhanced childcare support as a way to boost women’s productivity, and push back against “planned limits on female potential.”
In post on “X,” Tarique laid out the party’s plan to ensure “work-life” balance for working mothers, and to sufficiently exploit half of the nation’s talent.
The post is as follows:
What happens when a young mother leaves her job or a female student drops out because she cannot find adequate childcare? Bangladesh loses out on potential, productivity, and progress.
The BNP’s goal is simple: to build a modern, people-centred Bangladesh where no woman has to choose between her family and her future.
According to the “2024 BBS Labor Force Survey,” only 43% of women participate in the labour market compared to 80% of men. That gap is warning us that we are leaving more than half of our nation’s talent behind.
That is why the BNP is considering to introduce an initiative across the nation to make childcare part of Bangladesh’s economic growth strategy. We envision implementing:
• Daycare centres in all public universities
• Nationwide plans to gradually establish daycare centres in government offices
• Mandatory daycare at large private institutions and factories
• Tax incentives and CSR credits for employers providing childcare
• Training and certification for caregivers under the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs’ standards
This single reform can help raise women’s employment, increase family income, allow the growing middle class to find financial stability, and add up to 1% to our GDP. With women making up nearly two-thirds of the garments industry workforce, the contribution of working mothers should not be undervalued. Studies from The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and International Labour Organization (ILO) show factories with childcare enjoy higher retention, lower absenteeism, and recover costs within a year.
Childcare is not charity – it is part of the socio-economic infrastructure. Just as roads connect markets, daycare connects women to opportunity.
We have a clear vision to build an inclusive trillion-dollar economy by 2034 that creates millions of jobs, where every citizen, especially women, contribute to their country’s growth with pride.
We reject any regressive idea that limits women’s potential. Empowering women through childcare, equal pay, and workplace safety is not only fairness – it’s smart economics.
Together, let’s build a nation where every working mother and every student has the freedom to thrive, and where care within one’s community is recognised as the foundation of progress.
