PM to open family card scheme in Bogura on March 10

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit Bogura and inaugurate the government's much-talked-about Family Card pilot programme in Sadar upazila on March 10.

Quoting Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Mohammad Zahid Hossain, BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan confirmed the matter on Friday, February 27.

Earlier on February 24, after a meeting at the Cabinet Division with the prime minister in the chair, Minister Zahid said the prime minister will launch the pilot distribution on March 10, and each card-holding family will receive Tk 2,500 in monthly financial assistance.

Under the initial phase, 14 upazilas across different divisions have been selected for the pilot programme. One ward from one union in each of 14 selected upazilas will be brought under the programme.

“We have taken a final decision today (Tuesday), 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.

Initially, extremely poor, poor and low-income women, particularly women-headed households, will be prioritised.

KH/MSU