Dhaka, Oct 30 (V7N)- Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has announced his party’s vision to build an “inclusive trillion-dollar economy” by 2034, promising to create millions of new jobs and ensure a women-friendly workforce environment across the country.

In a Facebook post on Thursday (October 30), Tarique Rahman emphasized the importance of establishing daycare centers for working mothers and students in both workplaces and educational institutions. He said that providing childcare support at workplaces not only benefits families but also boosts productivity and accelerates economic growth.

“When a young mother leaves her job due to lack of childcare, or a student drops out because she cannot balance her responsibilities, Bangladesh loses potential, productivity, and progress,” he wrote. “BNP wants to build a modern, people-oriented Bangladesh where no woman has to choose between her family and her future.”

Citing the 2024 Labor Force Survey of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Tarique noted that the female labor participation rate stands at 43 percent, compared to 80 percent for men—indicating that “more than half of the nation’s talent remains untapped.”

Outlining his plans, Tarique Rahman said BNP would:

  • Establish daycare centers in all government universities;

  • Adopt a national plan to expand daycare facilities in government offices in stages;

  • Make daycare centers mandatory in large private institutions and factories;

  • Offer tax benefits and CSR credits to employers providing childcare facilities; and

  • Introduce training and certification programs for caregivers under the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.

According to him, this single reform could raise women’s employment, boost household income, strengthen the middle class, and add up to 1 percent to the national GDP.

Highlighting the importance of working women in Bangladesh’s economy, he noted that two-thirds of the garment industry workforce are women. Studies by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) show that factories offering childcare facilities experience higher employee retention and lower absenteeism, recovering their costs within a year.

“Childcare is not a luxury—it is essential socio-economic infrastructure,” Tarique wrote. “Just as roads connect markets, daycare centers connect women to success in their careers.”

Reiterating his long-term vision, he said the BNP’s goal is to build an inclusive, trillion-dollar economy by 2034, where every citizen—especially women—plays a proud role in national progress.

“We reject any backward ideas that limit the potential of women,” Tarique Rahman declared. “Empowering women through childcare, equal pay, and workplace safety is not just fair—it is the foundation of an intellectual economy.”

END/SMA/AJ