Official launch of family card on August 16

Photo: Collected

News Desk: After completing the pilot phase, the government will officially launch the Family Card Program on 16 August. The government plans to gradually bring 16 million (1.6 crore) families under the program within the next four years. By regularly updating beneficiaries' information, the initiative aims to ensure that only genuinely poor families receive support.

These details were shared by Social Welfare Minister A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain while briefing journalists after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on the Family Card Program, chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, at the Secretariat on Thursday.

The minister said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will officially inaugurate the program on 16 August in Ward No. 8 of Latifabad Union, Kishoreganj Sadar Upazila. The program will then be expanded in phases across all upazilas and unions nationwide by the end of October.

According to the minister, the pilot project, implemented in 56 areas, produced encouraging results. Although some issues were encountered during data collection in two areas of Jashore and Netrokona, these problems have since been corrected. No significant issues were found in the remaining 54 areas, and the overall error rate remained below 3 percent.

It was also announced that, beginning on 16 August, data collection will be conducted entirely online using a new questionnaire and an updated methodology. The information will be updated every month to reflect changes such as deaths, shifts in socioeconomic conditions, or other relevant developments.

To ensure transparency, the government has established a three-tier monitoring system. At the union level, first-class government officials will supervise data collection. Separate committees will operate at the upazila level under the leadership of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), at the district level under the Deputy Commissioner (DC), and at the divisional level under the Divisional Commissioner. A national committee, chaired by the Finance Minister, will oversee the program, while the Prime Minister will also regularly monitor its progress.

The Social Welfare Minister explained that the Family Card Program will operate through a dynamic social registry, which will continuously update households' socioeconomic information. As a result, if a family moves from poverty to a lower-middle-income or middle-income status or falls back into poverty, these changes will be reflected in the registry.

He added that information will be verified at the union level to ensure that no eligible beneficiaries are excluded and no ineligible individuals are included. The government's objective is to reduce existing weaknesses in the distribution of social allowances and family cards while ensuring greater transparency.

The minister further stated that the program will not discriminate based on religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation. Instead, it is being implemented in line with the government's commitment to building an inclusive and humane state.

He also noted that when financial assistance is provided directly to women in the family, it is more likely to be spent on children's education, nutrition, healthcare, poultry farming, tree plantation, cottage industries, sewing, and other small-scale entrepreneurial activities. This, he said, will contribute to women's empowerment while also helping reduce rural poverty.