Prime Minister's wife and Vice President of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation Dr Zubaida Rahman on Monday said that day-care centers are not just places to keep children safe, but are also important instruments in building the country's future.

She made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop titled "Primary Care and Blooming of Children" held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Pani Bhaban in the city.

"Due to the lack of quality day-care centers, working mothers and their children are facing multiple obstacles," she said.

The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.

Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain presided over the event while Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad and State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin spoke as special guests.

Earlier in the day, Dr Zubaida Rahman conducted a series of visits, touring the Government Children Family (Girl) in Tejgaon at 10:30 am, the Children Day-care centre of Bhumi Bhaban at 11 am and the Children Day-care centre of Pani Bhaban at 11:30 am.

Addressing the workshop, Dr Zubaida Rahman noted, "50.58 percent of Bangladesh's total population are women, and 28.36 percent of the total population are between the ages of 0 and 14 years."

Highlighting the urgent necessity of day-care centers for working mothers, she recalled an experience from her own school life and urged authorities to increase the activities and reach of children's day-care centers.

Mentioning the present situation of these facilities, she said, "Although the situation has improved somewhat, many working mothers still worry about childcare. Although 123 Child Development Centers provide care for 7,360 children, it is only sufficient for 0.34 percent of the total child population."

She added that, "As a result, many children are deprived of essential early childhood development activities, playing with peers, and opportunities to grow up healthily."

Dr Zubaida Rahman further emphasized that quality and universal pre-primary education and early childhood development will build a strong foundation for children's cognitive and social development.

Expressing her gratitude towards the caregivers at day-care centers, she said, "Due to their humane and difficult responsibilities, numerous working mothers can work without worry, and children get the opportunity to grow up in a safe environment."

She went on to state that childhood is the most important period of life.

"During this time, the foundations of honesty, dedication, peace, education, culture, humanity, tolerance, discipline, curiosity, perseverance, and mutual respect are built," Dr Zubaida remarked.

In this connection, she added that caregivers are simultaneously performing the important duty of building the foundation for the country's future generation and creating opportunities for a large population of women to participate in the workforce.