Dhaka: Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister AZM Zahid Hossain has announced plans to develop Bangladesh Shishu Academy as a safe haven for nurturing the inherent talents, free thinking, and mental development of every child in the country. He made this statement during a visit to the academy and a meeting with its officials as part of preparations for the academy's golden jubilee celebrations.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the meeting was held in anticipation of the golden jubilee celebrations scheduled for October 6, which will also be observed as Children's Rights Day and World Children's Week. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to attend the event as the chief guest. During his visit, Minister Zahid inspected various facilities of the academy, including the main auditorium, library, Braille corner, and surrounding areas, and instructed for necessary renovations to foster a conducive environment for children.
In terms of infrastructure development, Minister Zahid has set a specific deadline for the Public Works Department and Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) to activate the academy's long-unused electrical substation. He also directed the installation of modern solar panels to promote an environment-friendly power management system. The minister emphasized expanding educational opportunities for children with special needs by increasing the collection of Braille books and adding assistive technologies to the Braille corner.
The meeting also addressed security measures with representatives from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to ensure the safety of the academy premises, especially during the Prime Minister's visit. Minister Zahid has mandated the establishment of an integrated security cordon, specific traffic management, and continuous surveillance to prevent any untoward situations.
Present at the meeting were chief engineers of the Public Works Department and DPDC, the Dhaka University proctor, the Director General and senior officials of Bangladesh Shishu Academy, members of its governing body, senior DMP officials, and senior officials from the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.