Defining care: An opportunity to strengthen Bangladesh’s childcare framework

Consider a woman in Mirpur who minds four of her neighbours' children for a modest monthly fee. Under the strictest reading of current regulations, she might be viewed as running an unregistered centre liable to a fine of Tk 50,000. 

On another reading, she is operating entirely outside recognised legal definitions. The ambiguity exists because, while the 2021 Act is incredibly exact regarding safety standards, consequences, and center management, a foundational definition of "childcare" itself is still taking shape across Bangladesh's policy landscape. 

From the 2011 National Children Policy to the 2024 Roadmap for Childcare, the sector has been given targets and guidance, yet the core activity being governed remains formally undefined.

The value of measurement and support 

Establishing a clear boundary for what constitutes childcare has profound administrative and economic benefits. When a service is clearly defined, it becomes much easier to evaluate data, model cost sustainability, and direct public subsidies where they are most effective. 

Currently, the lack of definition makes it difficult to count how many children are in care, assess the quality of those environments, or implement systemic quality upgrades.

The consequences of this are most visible in the labour market. Research conducted by the ILO for the 2024 Roadmap highlights that 54 percent of working parents view the lack of affordable, decent childcare as a primary obstacle to women entering and remaining in the workforce. 

Furthermore, investment in early childhood care could create over two million jobs in Bangladesh by 2035, positioning childcare as a critical economic driver alongside its role in social welfare.

Focusing on the service, not just the space 

A close reading of the 2021 Act reveals that the current unit of regulation is the facility itself. The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs oversees four distinct types of registered centers. However, this focus on buildings overlooks where the majority of care actually takes place.

With roughly 97% of employed women in Bangladesh working informally, traditional institutional crèches are often inaccessible or cost-prohibitive. Instead, families rely on home-based arrangements, community support, and neighbors like the woman in Mirpur. Research identifies multiple parallel models operating today, from factory-based centers to informal home-based provision. 

A regulatory definition that only recognises registered institutions leaves the binding constraint unaddressed: it is not just a shortage of childcare, but a shortage of childcare that the state is able to see and support.

Global perspectives on inclusive policy 

Other nations have successfully navigated this shift by defining the activity rather than the premises. England's Childcare Act 2006 treats a home-based childminder and a large nursery with equivalent legal standing, enabling local councils to accurately assess regional needs and sufficiency.

Rwanda offers a highly relevant model for our economic context; its 2023 standards define home-based provision organically, recognising when neighbouring households pool resources, rather than imposing a top-down institutional structure. Conversely, Kenya's experience in Nairobi serves as a cautionary tale: despite having defined standards since 2017, many home-based centres remain unregistered because the process was priced and designed for larger institutions. For a framework to succeed, the definition and a proportional, accessible registration pathway must arrive hand in hand.

A sustainable path forward 

Because the Rules under the 2021 Act have not yet been finalised, policymakers have a prime window to make four highly constructive adjustments:

Define the Service: Establish a broad definition of childcare services rather than just the premises, that the ECCD Strategy and the Roadmap can cross-reference.

Create Inclusive Registration: Open a registration tier, which should be simpler than a regular trade license, specifically for home-based and community providers, featuring proportional quality standards and nominal or waived fees to encourage integration.

Standardise the Age Span: Settle on a single age span across all instruments (from six months to six years), explicitly naming the under-three band to provide statutory cover for mothers facing the steepest labor market penalties.

Track and Evaluate: Attach periodic data evaluation and sufficiency assessments to the roadmap's monitoring framework, counting progress in the units this new definition creates.

Achieving comprehensive childcare coverage in Bangladesh will naturally rely on home-based providers carrying a significant portion of the load alongside registered centers. By defining and embracing these informal networks, the state gains the ability to regulate, support, and sustainably fund the individuals doing the essential work of raising the next generation.

Raisa Adiba is a Development Practitioner with 8+ years of experience. 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.