Prime Minister will launch the family card programme on March 10, Dr Zahid has announced

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to inaugurate the Family Card initiative — a key pledge from the election campaign — on March 10.

The announcement was made today by Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain.

He said the government will roll out a pilot phase of the programme, with plans to eventually provide monthly cash assistance to two crore families across the country.

“Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will formally launch the four-month pilot project in 14 upazilas on March 10. Under the scheme, eligible families with at least five members will receive Tk 2,500 per month through direct transfers to their mobile wallets or bank accounts,” he said.

A total of 6,500 families will be included in the pilot phase, with the programme to be expanded nationwide in stages.

“If fully implemented, the initiative would require around Tk 5,000 crore per month, amounting to approximately Tk 60,000 crore annually,” he added.