Desk Report:
Minister for Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, MP, said that a supporting environment and social awareness are needed to develop the latent potential of children. Which is not possible for the government alone, it can be achieved only if the entire society works together.
The minister said this at a roundtable meeting titled ‘Act for Early Years: Safeguarding Childhood and the Planet’ organized by Bangladesh ECD Network (BEN) and Prakriti O Jiban Foundation in Tejgaon, the capital, on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) at Channel I’s Mustafa Monowar Studio.
The meeting discussed various important issues related to ensuring child health and nutrition, sensitive care, protection and security, early learning opportunities, mental health, the impact of climate change, disabilities and overall development of children.
The minister said that about 34 percent of the country’s total population is children and 51 percent is women. Development is never possible by leaving this huge population behind. BNP has included various commitments in its election manifesto, emphasizing the welfare of women, children and marginalized people from all walks of life. Where the rights, protection and overall development of women and children have been clearly highlighted. The government has further strengthened the Mother and Child Support Program (MCBP) by giving utmost importance to the health, nutrition and welfare of mothers and children. In addition, the government is implementing various programs to ensure the protection of women and children at risk of climate change, increase adaptive capacity, social security and necessary assistance.
The minister further said, we did not come to power by night vote or without a vote, we came to power by the people’s vote, the people are the source of all power. The people have long wanted the highest budget to be given to the education and health sectors. The current government has given the highest allocation to the education sector in its first budget and the second highest allocation to the health sector. It has also allocated Tk 1.43 lakh crore in the social security sector.
The minister called on everyone to work together to build a developed and humane Bangladesh for the next generation, without dwelling on the mistakes of the past and respecting those who sacrificed themselves in the liberation war and democratic struggle.
The speakers at the event said that about 19.4 million children in the country are at risk of climate change. To address this situation, emphasis was placed on building climate-resilient education and health systems, expanding child-centered social protection programs in disaster-prone areas, ensuring safe water and sanitation, building disaster-resilient infrastructure, prioritizing the needs of children in climate adaptation activities, and strengthening integrated initiatives of relevant government and non-government organizations, development partners, and local communities.
The media partner of the event was Channel i, and the communication partner was Samsati Media Communication and Development Foundation. Also present at the event were Shah Mohammad Mahbub, Director General of the Department of Social Services, representatives of the United Nations, UNICEF, UNESCO, Save the Children, various development partners, NGOs, civil society representatives, university teachers, doctors, representatives of private organizations, and the media.
