Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to Launch ‘Family Card’ Program on March 10

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to officially inaugurate the much-anticipated “Family Card” program on March 10, according to confirmation from the Prime Minister’s Press Wing on Monday (February 23).

According to the press release, the program will initially be launched on a pilot basis in one ward each across 13 districts of the country. Based on the outcomes of this trial phase, the initiative will be gradually expanded nationwide. Relevant sources stated that the objective is to ensure that assistance reaches genuine beneficiaries through a transparent and structured process.

The “Family Card” program was one of the key electoral pledges of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Soon after forming the government, steps were taken to implement the initiative on a priority basis. On February 19, the government formed a cabinet committee to expedite distribution of the cards, aiming to deliver them to extremely poor and low-income families before Eid. An official gazette notification stated that the “Cabinet Committee on Family Card Distribution” was established to strengthen the social safety net and provide support to marginalized families.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has been appointed as the chair of the 14-member committee. Other members include Social Welfare Minister Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain, Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, the State Minister for Local Government, the State Minister for Social Welfare, Adviser Mahdi Amin, Adviser Rehan Asif Asad, the Cabinet Secretary, and secretaries from the Ministries of Women and Children Affairs, Election Commission, Finance, Information, Local Government, Planning, and Social Welfare.

The government stated that the “Family Card” initiative is expected to play a significant role in strengthening the country’s social protection framework and ensuring essential support for low-income and vulnerable populations.

Meanwhile, an emergency meeting regarding both the “Family Card” and “Farmer Card” programs is scheduled to be held at the Secretariat on Tuesday (February 24), where implementation strategies and monitoring mechanisms are likely to be finalized.