Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to inaugurate the government’s much-anticipated Family Card programme on March 10, marking the rollout of a pilot initiative aimed at providing monthly financial assistance to low-income households.
Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain announced the launch date on Friday, describing the scheme as a key election pledge designed to strengthen social protection.
Under the initial four-month pilot phase, the programme will be introduced in 14 upazilas. Eligible families consisting of at least five members will receive Tk 2,500 per month, transferred directly to their mobile financial service accounts or bank accounts.
According to the minister, approximately 6,500 families will be covered during the pilot stage, with plans to expand the initiative nationwide in phases. The government’s long-term objective is to bring up to two crore families under the monthly cash assistance scheme.
Dr Zahid said that if fully implemented, the programme could require an estimated Tk 5,000 crore per month, amounting to roughly Tk 60,000 crore annually. He described the initiative as a major step towards broadening the country’s social safety net framework and ensuring direct financial support reaches vulnerable households efficiently.
The Family Card scheme is part of the administration’s broader strategy to address economic pressures faced by lower-income groups, particularly amid rising living costs. Analysts say the use of digital transfers through mobile wallets and bank accounts reflects an effort to enhance transparency and reduce administrative leakages in welfare distribution.
Further details regarding eligibility criteria, monitoring mechanisms and nationwide expansion timelines are expected to be outlined following the formal inauguration next week.
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