Universal Card to bring all benefits under one identity: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced a 'groundbreaking' initiative to ensure social and financial security for the country's working-class people, marginal farmers and underprivileged communities. The government has adopted a master plan to bring all periodic welfare benefits under a single card, to be called the 'Universal Card'.

"The state and its citizens both become weak if the state fails to meet its responsibilities," the Prime Minister said. He stressed that benefits such as Family Cards, Farmer Cards, Sports Cards, Expatriate Cards and special cards for Imams, Muazzins and religious leaders are not charity but the state's absolute responsibility. The Universal Card will consolidate all these benefits under a single identity.

In his speech, the Prime Minister detailed the government's commitment to farmers, fulfilling the BNP's pre-election pledge to waive agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000. He said this was the first decision taken in the cabinet meeting after forming the government, and nearly 13 lakh marginal farmers have already benefited.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the need for national unity on welfare programmes and outlined plans to transform Bangladesh into a trillion-dollar economy by 2034. He announced massive employment generation targets, including 10 lakh jobs in the ICT sector, another 10 lakh in the blue economy and eco-tourism, and a long-term goal of creating employment for 9 crore people across various sectors.

To combat climate change, the government has launched a mega project to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years, creating green jobs and establishing 10,000 new nurseries. The Prime Minister said he inaugurated the planting of 2 lakh saplings on Wednesday morning.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to implementing the 'July Proclamation' and the 31-point agenda, which he said has become the people's charter of liberation. He also mentioned the recruitment of 10,000 new police constables as part of efforts to transform law enforcement into a professional force and ensure public safety.