Family Card Scheme Costs Tk 134,000 Crore

The government’s proposed Family Card programme, pledged in the election manifesto, is projected to cost approximately Tk 1,34,000 crore over a five-year period, according to officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Social Welfare.

Under the scheme, each woman-headed household will receive Tk 2,500 per month in direct cash assistance. The number of beneficiaries is expected to rise gradually each year, along with corresponding increases in budget allocation.

The programme has already begun implementation on a pilot basis in the 2025–26 financial year. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman formally inaugurated the initiative on 10 March, focusing on women-led households as part of a broader social protection strategy.

A high-level review meeting on implementation progress was held on Monday at the Secretariat, chaired by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. Senior officials, including the Social Welfare Minister, the Prime Minister’s Economic Adviser, the State Minister for Social Welfare, and top bureaucrats from the Finance and Social Welfare divisions, attended the session.

Pilot Phase and Early Allocation

Officials confirmed that more than 37,000 Family Cards have already been distributed under the pilot phase. For the current fiscal year, the Social Welfare Ministry has requested an allocation of Tk 86 crore to cover 86,000 beneficiaries until June.

Of this allocation:

• 66% is earmarked for direct cash transfers
• 34% will be used for administrative costs, including data collection, digital systems, and card issuance

Preparations are underway to extend coverage to an additional 48,000 beneficiaries within the current phase.

Five-Year Financial Projection

The ministry presented a detailed projection for beneficiary expansion and budget requirements from 2026–27 to 2029–30.

Overall expenditure for the five-year period is estimated at Tk 1,33,616 crore. Of this, Tk 1,21,286 crore will go directly to cash assistance, while Tk 12,330 crore will be spent on surveys, identification processes, and system development.

Implementation and Oversight

Authorities plan to conduct a nationwide survey covering approximately 4.1 crore households to identify eligible beneficiaries. At least one crore households will be surveyed annually.

The Cabinet Division will monitor beneficiary selection to minimise inclusion errors and ensure transparency. A supervisory committee is also being proposed, while Upazila Nirbahi Officers will lead local-level committees for field verification.

The Social Welfare Ministry has further recommended expanding manpower, providing training, and establishing additional administrative offices to support implementation.

Expert Concerns

Economists have stressed the importance of sustainable financing for the programme. Selim Raihan, Executive Director of the South Asian Network on Economic Modelling, noted that while the initiative is commendable, its success will depend on strong revenue generation rather than reliance on borrowing.

He also emphasised the need to reduce inefficiencies in existing social protection schemes and ensure careful selection of beneficiaries to maximise impact.

Despite concerns over fiscal pressure, government officials maintain that funding for the programme will be prioritised, with assurances that no shortage of resources will hinder implementation.