Professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, the minister for social welfare and women and children affairs, on Thursday said the government should prepare a 50-year master plan to develop the country’s child development centres into modern correctional facilities with improved amenities.

The minister said his government, under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership, was working to build an inclusive society so that disadvantaged and neglected children and adolescents could become integrated into the country’s mainstream. He made the remarks after inspecting the construction of a proposed 10-storey academic and dormitory building at the Child Development Centre (Boys) in Tongi, Gazipur.

“Children are brought to these centres not as offenders but for rehabilitation,” the minister said. “They should have the opportunity to correct their mistakes in a good and appropriate environment so they can return to society as healthy and normal citizens.”

He said the centre currently houses about 760 children and adolescents, who receive vocational and technical training as well as small-scale agricultural training so they can contribute to society as productive members in the future.

During the inspection and review meeting, the minister issued a series of directives on modernising the centre and improving children’s safety and nutrition. He instructed officials to include ramps for children with disabilities in the design of the new building, install solar panels on the roof and provide fire hydrants to respond to emergencies.

He also called for a modern playground and regular sports competitions to support the children’s physical and mental development and stressed the importance of religious values and moral education.

The minister instructed officials not to keep firearms carried by Ansar personnel or any items that could cause fear in front of the children.

He also called for the centre to sign a memorandum of understanding with a nearby hospital to ensure access to primary treatment and prompt advanced medical care in emergencies, and suggested increasing doctors’ honoraria to improve healthcare services.

The minister directed the centre head to ensure children receive balanced meals containing carbohydrates, protein and fat, and instructed the social welfare secretary to take the necessary steps so that government allocations for the children’s food remain consistent with prevailing market prices if required.