41 lakh families to come under ‘family card’ scheme: Tarique

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that 41 lakh families across Bangladesh will be brought under the government’s family card programme within the next year as part of efforts to provide social protection and economic support to vulnerable households.

The prime minister made the announcement on Monday while exchanging views with family card holders at Batazore Ashwini Kumar Institution grounds in Gournadi upazila of Barishal.

He said the government would gradually extend the programme to women-headed households across the country in line with its election pledge.

“Bangladesh has around four crore families. Today, 600 families in Gournadi have received family cards, and the remaining eligible families will be included in phases,” Tarique said.

He said the government inherited a budget prepared by the previous administration, which did not include any allocation for the family card programme.

“The recently presented national budget has adequate allocation for this initiative. Based on the allocation for the next year, we will distribute family cards to 41 lakh families nationwide,” he added.

The prime minister said each upazila would receive around 7,000 family cards on average over the next year, while the government aims to bring all eligible families under the programme within five years.

Highlighting the importance of women’s empowerment, Tarique said the country’s development would not be possible unless women become educated and economically self-reliant alongside men.

He said the government plans to provide free education for women up to the undergraduate level and introduce scholarships for female students with strong academic performance.

The family card programme is part of the government’s broader social welfare initiative aimed at supporting low-income families and ensuring greater economic inclusion.

During his visit to Barishal, the prime minister also planted a tree as part of the government’s environmental initiatives.