Family Card Scheme: Recipients to Receive Monthly Allowance

The Government of Bangladesh is set to launch a pilot programme for the much-anticipated Family Card scheme, under which selected households will receive a monthly financial allowance of BDT 2,500. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to inaugurate the initiative on 10 March, marking a significant step in the government’s efforts to support women and economically vulnerable families.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday (24 February) after a high-level meeting at the Secretariat, Minister for Social Welfare Abu Zafar Mohammad Zahid Hossain outlined the objectives and operational details of the scheme. The meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister, included senior ministers, advisors, and high-ranking officials who endorsed the project after extensive deliberations.

“Empowering women and making them economically self-reliant is our primary goal,” the minister said. “When a woman becomes self-sufficient, the entire household benefits, and this empowerment will extend to future generations. This commitment has long been a core electoral pledge of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and the Prime Minister has devoted significant attention to ensuring its successful implementation.”

The Family Card initiative will initially be piloted across 14 selected Upazilas (sub-districts) nationwide. Within each Upazila, one Union and one Ward have been chosen for the first round of distribution. Over time, the scheme will be gradually expanded to cover additional regions across the country.

According to Minister Hossain, the recipients will be drawn from households classified as ultra-poor, poor, or lower-middle-income, with priority given to women-headed families. “Through this programme, eligible families will receive, Inshā’Allāh, a monthly financial grant of 2,500 taka. This will provide much-needed economic relief and help build a foundation for long-term self-reliance,” he added.

Pilot Programme Distribution Plan

The minister also confirmed that the Cabinet sub-committee, previously led by the Finance Minister, had reviewed and recommended the scheme. With the Prime Minister’s approval, the pilot phase will begin simultaneously in all 14 Upazilas on 10 March, laying the groundwork for a nationwide rollout in the coming months.

The Family Card scheme is seen as a milestone in Bangladesh’s social welfare initiatives, reflecting a sustained focus on poverty alleviation and women’s empowerment, and reinforcing the government’s commitment to creating an inclusive, financially resilient society.