Govt rolls out 60 moves in 60 days

The government has undertaken 60 major initiatives within the first two months of its tenure, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Spokesperson Mahdi Amin said on Saturday, presenting an ambitious snapshot of early policy actions aimed at economic reform, social protection, and institutional restructuring.

Addressing a press conference at the PMO, Mahdi said the administration, which began its journey on February 17, had moved swiftly to translate election pledges into concrete steps.

He described the measures as reflective of public aspirations and part of a broader strategy to accelerate national development and improve citizens’ welfare.

Among the flagship programmes, the government has rolled out a pilot “Family Card” scheme designed to strengthen women’s economic empowerment.

So far, 37,567 families have received the cards, each entitling beneficiaries to a monthly cash assistance of Tk 2,500.

Officials say the initiative aims to enhance financial inclusion at the household level while supporting women’s roles in family and social decision-making.

In parallel, a “Farmer Card” programme has been introduced, offering 10 categories of benefits to agricultural workers.

More than 22,000 marginal, smallholder, and medium farmers across 10 districts have already been brought under the scheme.

The government has also waived loans of up to Tk 10,000, including interest, for nearly 1.2 million small and marginal farmers, in a move intended to ease rural financial stress and stimulate agricultural productivity.

Highlighting legislative activity, Mahdi said the government ensured legal continuity by resolving 133 ordinances during the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, describing it as a notable example of parliamentary functioning within a short timeframe.

Sixteen of those ordinances, including measures related to human rights and enforced disappearances, are set to be reintroduced as bills following further review.

The administration has also launched an extensive water management programme, targeting the excavation and re-excavation of 20,000 kilometres of rivers, canals, and other water bodies nationwide.

Officials say the effort is aimed at mitigating flooding, improving irrigation, and restoring ecological balance.

On the energy front, the government has sought to cushion domestic markets from global price volatility through subsidies and diplomatic engagement.

It has also added 35 megawatts of electricity to the national grid through rooftop solar and net metering systems, with a long-term target of generating 10,000 megawatts from renewable sources by 2030. A pilot fuel card system has also been introduced to streamline distribution.

Efforts to stabilize commodity markets have been another priority. According to the PMO, prices remained comparatively stable during Ramadan despite broader economic pressures, including a liquidity crunch.

Authorities credited supply chain management and targeted interventions for maintaining market balance.

In the social sector, the government has initiated monthly allowances for religious leaders across mosques, temples, monasteries, and churches, with plans for gradual expansion.

It also distributed relief and gifts among low-income groups during Eid-ul-Fitr and has taken steps to modernize the zakat system.

Labour migration and expatriate welfare have featured prominently in the government’s agenda.

Plans are underway to introduce an “Expatriate Card,” while the cost of Hajj has been reduced by Tk 12,000 per ticket.

The Nusuk Hajj Card has also been introduced for the first time to facilitate pilgrimage management.

Additionally, the government has moved to reopen the Malaysian labour market and is pursuing bilateral agreements with seven European countries to expand overseas employment opportunities.

Addressing employment within the public sector, Mahdi noted that more than 468,000 positions remain vacant across ministries and government offices.

To address this, authorities have formulated short-, medium-, and long-term plans spanning six months to five years to fill these posts.

Economic policy has been framed around an ambitious goal of transforming Bangladesh into a trillion-dollar economy by 2034.

As part of efforts to attract foreign investment, the government has relaxed regulations, including lifting the requirement for prior central bank approval for repatriation of investments up to Tk 100 crore.

In education and healthcare, the government has announced plans to recruit 100,000 health workers to strengthen primary care services and has waived admission fees in certain sectors.

It has also introduced unsecured bank guarantees of up to Tk 10 lakh for students pursuing higher education abroad.

Environmental and public health initiatives include a five-year programme to plant 200 million trees and nationwide cleanliness drives to combat dengue.

Legal amendments are also being pursued to prevent river encroachment and pollution.

In a move to reduce state expenditure, the Prime Minister has opted to reside in a private residence instead of the official state building and has curtailed VVIP privileges.

The government has also decided against allocating duty-free vehicles and residential plots to ministers, a step officials say underscores a commitment to austerity.

Efforts to recover illicit financial flows are also underway, with measures introduced to strengthen asset identification and legal assistance aimed at repatriating laundered money held abroad.

Mahdi described the first two months as a period of rapid progress, asserting that the government had restored public confidence and set a clear direction for the future.

He added that a 180-day action plan is in place to sustain momentum and ensure that policy implementation translates into tangible outcomes for citizens.

Framing the broader political context, the spokesperson said the administration’s electoral victory had been widely recognized domestically and internationally, portraying it as a reflection of democratic resurgence.

He also noted growing international engagement and highlighted the Prime Minister’s inclusion in TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people of 2026 as a sign of global recognition.

Senior PMO officials, including press and communications staff, were present at the briefing.