PM launches ‘Family Card’ just three weeks after taking office
Just three weeks after forming the government, Prime Minister Tarek Rahman inaugurated the “Family Card” programme, fulfilling part of the election promises.
The formal inauguration took place on Tuesday (March 10) at the T&T Playground in Banani, Dhaka, adjacent to the Korail slum. Around 10:30 am, the Prime Minister arrived at the venue and exchanged greetings with the general public. She was accompanied on stage by her wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman. Members of the Cabinet and officials from the Family Card Implementation Committee were also present.
The event began with recitations from the Holy Quran and other religious texts, followed by the BNP party anthem, “Prothom Bangladesh Amar, Shesh Bangladesh”, during which the Prime Minister and attendees applauded along with the music. The welcome speech was delivered by Secretary of Social Welfare, Dr Abu Yusuf.
From early morning, many low-income citizens gathered at the T&T Playground. Several had already received messages on their mobile phones confirming the deposit of government assistance. Receiving the state aid ahead of Eid brought tears of joy to many, with some planning to use the funds for medicine, while others considered saving a portion.
According to ministry sources, beneficiaries had received the financial aid on their mobile phones even before the inauguration.
Earlier, on Monday (March 9), a press conference at the Secretariat by the Ministry of Social Welfare announced that the pilot phase of the program would be implemented in 15 wards across 13 districts. Each card generally covers a family of five, though larger or joint families will be allocated additional cards proportionally.
In the initial phase, beneficiaries will receive a cash allowance of Tk 2,500 per month. The government is also considering providing equivalent food items instead of cash in the future. The programme aims to empower women, promote economic freedom, and ensure social justice, which the government describes as a groundbreaking initiative.
The ministry stated that, in the pilot phase, data on 67,854 women-headed households nationwide has been collected. A database assessing household members, education, housing, and living standards has been created. Using Proxy Means Test (PMT) software, poverty indicators are determined automatically to prevent interference or favoritism.
After verification, families already receiving multiple allowances, government employees, or pensioners were excluded, leaving 37,567 families eligible for the aid.
The Family Cards are modern and secure, incorporating contactless chips, QR codes, and NFC technology. Using the Government-to-Person (G2P) system, allowances will be deposited directly into the beneficiary woman’s bank account or mobile wallet, eliminating the possibility of intermediary interference or misappropriation.
Strict eligibility rules have also been set to maintain transparency: families with members employed in government or autonomous institutions, MPO-registered teachers, or those with savings certificates or luxury assets (such as cars or air conditioners) exceeding Tk 500,000 will not qualify.
A total of Tk 38.07 crore has been allocated for the pilot project until June this year. Of this, 66.06% will be distributed as direct cash aid, while the remaining funds will cover card production and technological system development.
Detailed guidelines have already been published on the Ministry of Social Welfare’s website.