Tarique Rahman Outlines 5-Point Plan for Working Mothers: Daycare in Every Workplace

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has revealed plans for a comprehensive initiative to establish daycare centers in workplaces, aiming to create a Bangladesh where no woman has to choose between family and career.

In a Thursday post on his verified Facebook page, Tarique wrote, "When a young mother quits her job due to lack of childcare, or a female student drops out of studies, what happens? Bangladesh loses potential, productivity, and progress."

He emphasized, "BNP’s goal is simple: build a modern, people-centric Bangladesh where no woman has to sacrifice family for the future."

Citing the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) 2024 Labor Force Survey, Tarique noted, "Male labor participation is 80%, but females are only 43%. This gap warns us that we’re sidelining more than half our nation’s talent."

BNP’s 5-Point Plan:

• Daycare in Universities: Establish centers in all public universities.
• Government Offices: Phased national rollout for daycare facilities.
• Private Sector Mandate: Require large firms and factories to provide childcare.
• Incentives: Tax breaks and CSR credits for employers offering daycare.
• Training: Certify caregivers via Women and Children Affairs Ministry standards.

Tarique stated, "This reform could boost female employment, family income, middle-class stability, and GDP by 1 percent."

He added, "In ready-made garments, where two-thirds of workers are women, undervaluing working mothers is unacceptable. IFC and ILO studies show factories with childcare retain more staff, reduce absenteeism, and recover costs within a year."

"Childcare isn’t charity—it’s essential infrastructure. Just as roads connect markets, daycares connect women to economic success," he noted.

Tarique envisioned, "By 2034, a trillion-dollar inclusive economy creating millions of jobs, where every citizen—especially women—contributes proudly to national growth."

He concluded, "We reject backward notions limiting women. Through childcare, equal pay, and workplace safety, we build a merit-based economy. Let’s craft a Bangladesh where every working mother and student thrives, recognizing care and cooperation as progress’s foundation."