The government will launch its much-talked-about Family Card pilot programme on March 10, with each card-holding family set to receive Tk 2,500 in monthly financial assistance.
Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Mohammad Zahid Hossain informed of the decision on Tuesday after a meeting at the Cabinet Division with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair.
He said the Prime Minister will formally inaugurate the pilot distribution ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
14 upazilas selected for pilot
Under the initial phase, one ward from one union in each of 14 selected upazilas across different divisions will be brought under the programme.
“We have taken a final decision today, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, to start piloting the family card,” the minister said. “On March 10, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the distribution of universal family cards.”
The programme will be rolled out simultaneously in the selected upazilas and will then expand gradually across the country.
Focus on poor, women-led families
Initially, extremely poor, poor and low-income women, particularly women-headed households, will be prioritised.
Each eligible family will receive Tk 2,500 per month through the Family Card.
“This will not be based on any political belief or religious discrimination. It will be a universal card,” Zahid Hossain said.
He described the initiative as one of the key election pledges of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, adding that the Prime Minister had been working on the concept for a long time.
The government believes the programme will contribute to women’s empowerment by strengthening their financial independence, which in turn will benefit families and future generations.
Gradual nationwide expansion
The minister said the pilot phase is expected to be completed within four months. After that, coverage will expand step by step.
“It cannot be given to the entire upazila at first. Maybe first one ward, then one union, then another union. In this way, we will gradually cover the whole country,” he said.
When asked about the number of initial beneficiaries, he said eligibility would determine the figures. “You will get only as many people as deserve it in a ward,” he added.
Door-to-door data collection, multi-tier monitoring
On the selection process, the minister stressed that there would be no political involvement.
“There is no selection from home. Information is being collected door-to-door from the field level. No one will be discriminated against, no one will be excluded,” he said.
Committees led by Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) will oversee implementation at the upazila level, while union and ward-level government officials will form additional committees. A first-class officer will be assigned to each upazila to supervise ward-level activities, with a two-tier verification system to minimise errors.
Funding plan
Regarding financing, Zahid Hossain said that since the current fiscal year is nearing its end, initial funding may come from lump-sum allocations by the Finance Ministry. From the next fiscal year, the programme is expected to be incorporated into the regular national budget.
The Prime Minister is expected to visit one of the selected upazilas to inaugurate the programme. Further details about the venue and arrangements will be announced before March 10, the minister said.