President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for ensuring a safe, discrimination-free and loving environment for every child to build a prosperous, knowledge-based and humane nation.

He made the call in a message issued on Monday (October 5) marking Children’s Rights Day 2026 and the golden jubilee of the establishment of Bangladesh Shishu Academy.

The president said today’s children are tomorrow’s Bangladesh. The future of a prosperous, knowledge-based and humane nation depends on their healthy development, joyful childhood, quality education, and opportunities to develop their talent and creativity. Therefore, ensuring a safe, discrimination-free and affectionate environment for every child is a collective responsibility.

He said the government has taken various initiatives to ensure child protection, social security and overall development. Ensuring quality education, nutrition and healthcare, providing technical and technology-based training to children and adolescents who have dropped out of school, and developing a child-friendly justice system are among the notable initiatives in this regard.

The president said greater efforts must be made to ensure that these services reach children from disadvantaged, disabled and marginalised communities more effectively.

Highlighting the importance of sports in the physical and mental development of children and adolescents, he said initiatives have been taken to expand opportunities for children to participate in various sports at the school level. Plans have been made to establish ‘Sports Villages’ in all 64 districts, while ‘Sports Cards’ and sports allowances have been introduced. The ‘Natun Kuri Sports’ programme has also been relaunched to identify talented children at the grassroots level.

He said children would grow up enriched with knowledge, human values, morality and patriotism through integrated practices of education, culture and sports. If proper opportunities are created for the development of their intellect, creativity and talents, they will be able to build Bangladesh into a more prosperous and dignified state in the future.

The president said this year’s observance carries special significance as Children’s Rights Day coincides with the golden jubilee of the establishment of Bangladesh Shishu Academy. For five decades, the academy has played an important role in developing children’s talents through various creative activities, including music, dance, drawing, recitation and literature.

He expressed hope that in the coming days, the opportunities and possibilities available through such activities would reach children in every part of the country more extensively.

The president wished overall success of all programmes undertaken to mark Children’s Rights Day 2026 and the golden jubilee of the establishment of Bangladesh Shishu Academy.

He said ensuring a safe, joyful and enlightened life for every child in the world should be a commitment shared by all.