PM announces plan to launch 'Universal Card' at UN

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said there is a plan to launch a 'Universal Card' by integrating the various cards introduced for assistance in different sectors. He said this in his speech at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly at 4:18am Bangladesh time on Friday, September 25. The full text of the Prime Minister's speech also mentioned the plan to launch the 'Universal Card'.

Tarique Rahman said that alongside electoral democracy, the government wants to ensure democratisation of the economy, so that the benefits of economic growth and prosperity reach every family and citizen. To achieve this goal, assistance programmes have already been launched for economically disadvantaged people through various social protection schemes such as the Family Card, Farmers Card, Sports Card and e-Health Card.

He said the government considers the 'Family Card', issued in the name of the female head of each family, as a symbol of women's economic empowerment. Launching a 'Universal Card' by integrating the cards introduced for assistance in various sectors is also in the government's plan.

Tarique Rahman said the government is implementing the 31-point programme placed before the people before the national election on February 12 this year. At least 73 percent of the activities of the government's 31-point programme have a direct match with the 'Leave No One Behind' principle of the UN-declared Sustainable Development Goals, and 27 percent have an indirect match.

He said implementing these programmes will make it possible to reduce the development disparity between urban and rural areas, as well as advance accountability and inclusive sustainable development in all areas of the 2030 Agenda. He also said the Bangladesh government has given special importance to education, health and sports. According to him, this time the highest budget allocation in the country's history has been made for the education sector.

The Prime Minister said there is a plan to gradually raise spending on education to 5 percent of GDP within the next five years. He said the education curriculum has been formulated giving importance to technical and practical education to ensure a morally sound and job-oriented education system.

He said students in primary schools from the first grade are being given bags, clothes or school uniforms and free midday meals. The government hopes this will increase student attendance and the quality of education. To establish sports as a profession, 'Sports' has been included as a subject in the education syllabus for the first time. As part of this, more than 20 lakh students participated in a month-long football tournament organised across the country involving school students last June.