BNP Acting Chairman Tarek Rahman has called for recognizing childcare as a key driver of Bangladesh’s economic growth and women’s empowerment, emphasizing that women’s participation in the workforce is essential for achieving a trillion-dollar economy by 2034.In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Thursday (October 30), Tarek Rahman said, “When a young mother is forced to quit her job due to lack of childcare, or when a student has to drop out because she cannot balance responsibilities, Bangladesh loses potential, productivity, and progress.”

He said the BNP’s vision is clear — to build a modern, people-oriented Bangladesh where no woman has to choose between her family and her future.

Citing the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics’ 2024 Labour Force Survey, Tarek noted that women’s participation in the labor market remains significantly lower than men’s — 43% compared to 80%. “This gap is a warning that we are leaving behind more than half of our nation’s talent and capacity,” he remarked.

To address this, the BNP is considering a nationwide initiative to make childcare an integral part of Bangladesh’s economic growth strategy. The plan includes:

• Establishing daycare centers in all public universities.

• Introducing a national plan for daycare centers in government offices.

• Mandating childcare facilities in large private institutions and factories.

• Providing tax benefits and CSR credits to employers who offer childcare facilities.

• Ensuring standardized training and certification for caregivers through the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.

Tarek Rahman said such reforms could significantly boost women’s employment, increase household income, strengthen the expanding middle class, and contribute up to 1% to the country’s GDP.

He highlighted that nearly two-thirds of workers in the ready-made garment sector are women and stressed that the contribution of working mothers should not be undervalued. Citing research from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), he noted that “factories with childcare facilities have higher employee retention, lower absenteeism, and can recover their investment within a year.”

“Childcare is not charity—it is a vital part of our socio-economic infrastructure,” Tarek said. “Just as roads connect markets, daycare centers connect women to their professional success.”

Outlining his broader vision, he stated, “Our goal is an inclusive, trillion-dollar economy by 2034—creating millions of jobs where every citizen, especially women, can proudly contribute to national growth.”

Rejecting regressive attitudes that limit women’s potential, he added, “Empowering women through childcare, equal pay, and workplace safety is not just fair—it’s smart economics.”

Concluding his message, Tarek Rahman urged, “Let us build a Bangladesh where every working mother and every student has the freedom to succeed—and where care and cooperation are recognized as the foundation of progress.”