Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain has said that family cards will eventually be issued to all segments of society, including the affluent, as part of a nationwide initiative.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday after a meeting with district-level government officials at the Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner’s Office, the minister said Bangladesh has an estimated population of 18 crore. “If we assume an average of five members per household, there are approximately 4.5 crore families in the country. We are currently collecting data by visiting every household door to door,” he said.

He added that officials have been deployed to gather information from citizens across the country. “Within the next two years, between 2 and 2.5 crore families will receive the benefits of the family card programme. Initially, the ultra-poor will be prioritized, followed by the poor and the lower-income groups. Subsequently, middle-income and even affluent families will receive the card. Receiving the card is everyone’s right,” he stated.

Earlier in the day, Dr Zahid Hossain visited the graves of Begum Khaleda Zia’s mother Begum Tayeba Majumdar, father Iskandar Majumdar, and her elder sister, the late Women and Children Affairs Minister Begum Khurshid Jahan Haque.

He said the family of Begum Khaleda Zia had made significant contributions to the development of Dinajpur district. He also remarked that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has a strong attachment to the district and may visit Dinajpur at any time.

In addition, the minister condemned the killing of a seven-year-old child in Nawabganj on Friday night and said that necessary measures would be taken in response to the incident.