Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday spent some cheerful moments with children at a day-care centre in the “Bhumi Bhaban” in the capital after inaugurating the three-day “Land Service Fair-2026.”

After the inauguration programme, the Prime Minister visited the “Shishu Dibajotno Kendra” (day-care centre) on the ground floor of the building, run under the supervision of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. The inauguration ceremony of the fair was held on the 2nd floor.

Seeing the Prime Minister, the children became excited and rushed towards him, surrounding him with joy and laughter. Some reached out for handshakes, some pulled him towards their toys, while others eagerly showed him drawings they had made.

The day-care centre was filled with the sound of toys, cheerful laughter and the excited voices of children.

Breaking through a tight layer of security, the Prime Minister spent 18 minutes with the children from around 11:30am, as if briefly stepping into a world of carefree childhood filled only with laughter and happiness.

Tiny feet ran around the rooms, turning the space into a lively world of innocence and joy.

The Prime Minister looked at the children attentively, smiling warmly and praising their efforts.

At times, he gently patted their heads, and at others, he laughed openly at their innocent words.

Some children called him “uncle”, while others called him “mama” as they came forward to talk to him. In their pure affection and excitement, it seemed the Prime Minister was reminded of his own childhood days of running freely, playing with friends and simple joys.

A cake-cutting ceremony was arranged later, adding to the children’s excitement.

Tarique Rahman joined the children around the cake and cut it together with them. The room filled with applause and laughter.

Some children fed cake to the Prime Minister with their small hands, while he too, lovingly shared cake with them.

Later, talking to UNB, Women and Children Affairs Minister AZM Zahid Hossain said the children were overjoyed to see the Prime Minister and expressed their happiness by gathering around him.

He said Tarique Rahman also personally handed out chocolates, toffees, lollipops and gift bags to the children.

While distributing chocolates and sweets, Zahid said, the Prime Minister repeatedly asked if any child had been left out.

He said a cake was kept there from earlier. “Looking at the cake, the Prime Minister asked the children whose birthday it was. Several children excitedly replied, “Mine, uncle, mine!”

The Prime Minister then told them, “Today is the birthday of all of you. Come, let’s cut the cake together.”

He later cut the cake together with the children.

Minister Zahid said the children happily chanted “Happy Happy, Happy Day, Happy Birthday” while cutting the cake with the Prime Minister.

An official of the day-care centre, Mahiya Tasnuv Tamanna, briefed the Prime Minister on how the children are cared for at the centre.

Tarique Rahman also asked about the food provided to the children there.

One of the children, Ariba, expressed her excitement after meeting the Prime Minister.

“I cannot explain how happy I was to see Prime Minister uncle. I had fun eating cake with him, and he also ate cake,” she said.

“What a fun! Uncle is very nice and very sweet,” Ariba added.

Zahid said the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs currently runs 20 such day-care centres across the country, including 11 in Dhaka.

He said children aged between four months and six years receive services at the centre for around 10 and a half hours a day.

There are 60 children enrolled at the centre, and 55 of them were present during the Prime Minister’s visit, the minister added.

When the Prime Minister was leaving, the children waved goodbye and greeted him with smiles and salam.

State Minister for Land Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin was also present during the visit.