The decision to give 'family card' is final, who will get priority?

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government has finalized its decision to introduce a “Family Card” for five crore (50 million) families across the country. The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Secretariat last Thursday, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan confirmed the matter after the meeting.

Before the election, BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman announced a nine-point priority manifesto, pledging to build a “humane, inclusive, and accountable state.” The introduction of the Family Card was one of the key commitments aimed at protecting marginal and low-income families.

According to the manifesto, beneficiaries would receive either Tk 2,500 in cash per month or essential commodities of equivalent value through the Family Card. The government has also indicated that the amount of assistance and services may gradually increase. However, the latest decision suggests that the government is leaning towards providing cash assistance initially.

Agriculture Minister Aminur Rashid stated that cash payments will be provided under the program, with priority given to the ultra-poor and women.

Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo said the Family Card will be distributed in phases. There are plans to launch a pilot project before the upcoming Eid. Initially, ultra-poor families will receive the benefit, followed by poor households.

The Family Card initiative has also been included in the government's 180-day action plan. A 15-member “Cabinet Committee on Family Card Distribution” has already been formed, chaired by the Finance Minister. The committee will determine the card design, beneficiary selection process, and implementation framework.

The committee's responsibilities include launching the program initially in one upazila in each of the country's eight divisions, assessing coordination possibilities with existing women-focused programs, recommending digital integration between the National ID database and the national household database for beneficiary identification, and submitting a preliminary report before Eid al-Fitr.

Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain stated that the Family Card will not be distributed based on political considerations and that there will be no intermediaries. The cards will be delivered directly to female members of the families. Existing social safety net allowances will also continue alongside the new initiative.