37,814 families received cash through family card program: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that money has been given to 37,814 'women-headed' families through family cards for women's economic empowerment. Under this program, monthly assistance of Tk 2,500 is being provided to marginal and low-income families to improve their living standards. This initiative has been taken to strengthen social security and increase the economic capacity of poor families. Through this, efforts are being made to make women-headed families financially self-reliant.

He said these things in response to a written question by MP Md. Rabiul Awal in the National Parliament session, the 24th day of the first session of the 13th National Parliament on Wednesday (April 29). Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram presided over the session.

The Prime Minister said that the current government is working to build a safe, non-discriminatory and climate-resilient Bangladesh, where women and children will be equal partners in sustainable development and future generations will have a prosperous Bangladesh. To ensure the overall development and welfare of women and children, various programs are being run under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. Notable among these are the Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) program to improve the social conditions of the poor and disadvantaged; the Mother and Child Support Program to meet the nutritional needs of pregnant mothers and children during pregnancy and intellectual development; the microfinance program for women's self-employment; the operation of the Joyita Foundation to market the products of women entrepreneurs, etc.

He said that in addition to formulating and implementing various laws and regulations to prevent violence against women, there are National Toll-Free Helpline, One-Stop Crisis Center (OCC), One-Stop Crisis Cell, National Forensic DNA Profiling Laboratory, National Trauma Counseling Center, Safe Housing Center for Women, Children and Adolescents.

The Head of Government said that there are plans to continuously expand the existing Mother and Child Support Program. There are plans to increase the amount of financial benefits and the number of beneficiaries received under this program, include prenatal and post-natal services in the program, and include vaccination and institutional delivery. To ensure social and economic security of women, there are plans to expand quality training, livelihood assistance along with cash assistance, and separate graduation-based models for urban and rural areas. The government also has plans to create more women entrepreneurs and strengthen marketing networks for women. In the meantime, to protect marginal and low-income families in 13 districts and 3 city corporations, 37,814 female heads of families have been provided with monthly 'Family Cards' of Tk 2,500 in the initial phase.

Tarique Rahman said that children are the future of the country and the nation. For their development and welfare, Bangladesh Shishu Academy has been performing various responsibilities including cultural training; organizing National Shishu Award competitions; making children's films; pre-primary and child development programs for poor and needy children; awareness programs on autism; and protecting the interests of children, including environmental protection. Under the street child rehabilitation program, 151 children are currently provided with residential facilities, food, education and medical services through 2 residential centers. In addition, there are 9 outreach schools under this program. There are a total of 64 child day care centers for the care of children aged 6 months to 6 years of working mothers.

He further said that these day care centers provide balanced meals, provide pre-school education, provide primary health care and have indoor sports and recreation facilities. In addition to setting up day care centers at women's workplaces, the election manifesto has emphasized the establishment of 'breastfeeding corners' for mothers working in all industries, offices and courts, including garments.

The Prime Minister said that in order to ensure the availability of safe drinking water and improve the quality of life of coastal communities, especially women, by mitigating the risks of climate change-induced salinity and increasing their adaptive capacity, rainwater conservation and management activities are underway in the coastal areas of Bangladesh (Dakop, Koyra and Paikgachha upazilas of Khulna district and Asashuni and Shyamnagar upazilas of Satkhira district) under the 'Gender Responsive Climate Adaptation (GCA)' project under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. A total of 43,000 women have been provided livelihood assistance, training and agricultural inputs through this project. In addition, 13,308 family-based rainwater conservation and management systems have been completed. In addition, work is underway to install 2,000 more family-based rainwater conservation and management systems of 3,000 liters each in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Work is also underway to install 658 more community-based rainwater harvesting systems of 10 families in this fiscal year.

In addition, in response to a written question from MP Amir Ejaz Khan, the Prime Minister said that the government is aware of the risk of severe river erosion in Dakop and Batiaghata upazilas of the coastal district of Khulna. An embankment was constructed in Dakop upazila in the 1960s. The embankment has been damaged at various times due to river erosion, cyclones and tidal waves. Therefore, the government has already taken several steps to build sustainable embankments and prevent river erosion to protect the lives and property of the people of Dakop and Batiaghata upazilas.

He said that Bangladesh Water Development Board under the Ministry of Water Resources is carrying out permanent river bank and embankment slope protection work at Batbunia, Khalisha, Gainbari and Jhalbunia to prevent river erosion. The project is scheduled to be completed in June 2027. In addition, the project documents of the rehabilitation project of coastal polder No. 31 of Dakop Upazila are being scrutinized to address the risks of climate change. If the project is implemented, the people of Dakop will be protected from terrible river erosion.

He said the government is committed to protecting the lives and property of the common people. To this end, the Water Development Board plans to regularly monitor erosion-prone areas and quickly carry out repair work in case of emergency.