Dhaka: Following the successful completion of its pilot phase, the government will officially launch the Family Card programme on August 16 in Kishoreganj, aiming to bring around 1.60 crore families under the scheme over the next four years, Social Welfare Minister AZM Zahid Hossain said on Thursday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the programme in Latibabad Union in Sadar upazila of the district, after which it will be expanded in phases to all upazilas and unions across the country by the end of October. This announcement came after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on the Family Card programme at the Ministry of Finance, chaired by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.
The minister reported that pilot projects were implemented in 56 areas across the country before the programme’s nationwide rollout. Minor data collection issues were identified in Jashore and Kalmakanda of Netrokona, which have since been resolved. The remaining
54 pilot areas were implemented successfully, with fraudulent cases remaining below 3 percent.
Zahid emphasized that the Family Card programme is a dynamic social registry-based scheme, allowing beneficiaries’ information to be updated regularly in line with changes in their socio-economic conditions. If a family’s financial situation changes, the registry will be updated accordingly.
To ensure transparency and accurate beneficiary selection, public hearings will be conducted at the union level after data collection. The collected information will be reviewed and updated every month to ensure eligible families are included while ineligible ones are excluded, without discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation.
The government’s objective extends beyond providing financial assistance, aiming to help beneficiary families become self-reliant. Women in recipient households will be encouraged to use the support for children’s education, nutrition, healthcare, and income-generating activ
ities such as poultry farming, tree plantation, and small businesses.
The programme’s impact will be monitored regularly through independent evaluations involving the Finance Division, the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), and researchers from local and international universities. Zahid expressed hope for an initial impact assessment within six months of the programme’s launch.
A three-tier monitoring mechanism has been established to oversee data collection, verification, and approval. Separate committees will operate at the union, upazila, district, divisional, and national levels, with Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs), Deputy Commissioners (DCs), and the Cabinet Committee supervising implementation at their respective levels. The data will be cross-checked with the Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies to prevent individuals from receiving multiple social benefits, ensuring transparency, accountability, and technology-driven management throughout the programme.