That the BNP is considering rolling out its family card assistance before Eid, a key component of its election manifesto before the elections, is impressive and encouraging. This country is accustomed to seeing promises without implementation, so to see a government so eager to get to work is certainly a positive.
This is particularly salient as inflation continues to squeeze marginalized households. Thus, direct financial support of Tk2,000-2,500 per family would go a long way to provide immediate relief to millions.
We are also impressed with the proposal to issue cards in the name of housewives. Recognizing women’s central role in household management and ensuring that assistance reaches where it matters most is certainly a thoughtful and forward-thinking gesture.
However, while encouraging, prudence is also a necessary component. Experts have rightly cautioned that the fiscal impact of such a universal program could be immense, with estimates suggesting that covering five million families would cost upwards of Tk9,600 crore annually.
As a nation whose budget is already stretched thin, expanding such a program to 40 million families, as envisioned, would require significant planning and robust financing to avoid destabilizing the economy.
The most significant challenge, however, lies in targeting. Historically, Bangladesh’s social safety nets have often faltered because benefits failed to reach the most marginalized -- persons with disabilities, widows, labourers, and those in the remotest areas.
There should therefore be no scope for political affiliation or patronage to influence distribution. The same old patterns, where the social safety net becomes another instrument of exclusion rather than empowerment, must be avoided at all costs. Transparency, objective criteria, and independent oversight are therefore non-negotiable.
The BNP’s family card has the potential to redefine social protection in our country. However, its success will not depend on speed or symbolism but on fairness, accountability, and the courage to prioritize the truly deprived.
