PM launches 'Family Card' distribution programme

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has inaugurated the special 'Family Card' distribution programme aimed at ensuring social protection and economic self-reliance for women-headed households in the country. He launched the programme at a colourful ceremony held at the T&T playground adjacent to the capital's Banani Karail slum on Tuesday morning, March 10.

Under this programme, each enrolled family will receive a monthly financial allowance of Tk 2,500. To ensure transparency and reduce hassle, the money will be directly credited to the beneficiary's mobile wallet or bank account through a digital payment system.

The government has announced that this project has been launched experimentally as a pilot programme in 15 wards of 13 city corporations and unions across 13 districts of the country. A total of Tk 38.07 crore has been allocated for this sector for four months until next June.

Special committees comprising government representatives from district to ward level have been formed to maintain transparency in this pilot project.

At the outset of the project, data was collected from 67,854 women-headed households. Subsequently, through modern software, poverty indicators were analysed and the households were categorised into five classes (from ultra-poor to upper class).

After thorough verification, 47,777 families have been finally selected as eligible for this allowance from among the initial list of 51,805 families. This government initiative is expected to play a vital role in women's empowerment and poverty alleviation at the grassroots level.