The “Family Card” program, pledged in the BNP’s election manifesto, will be launched on March 10, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman set to inaugurate the initiative. Initially, the scheme will be introduced in 14 upazilas across the country.

The information was disclosed by Social Welfare Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain on Tuesday.

A meeting on the Family Card program was held at the Secretariat earlier in the day, chaired by the prime minister. Ministers, state ministers and senior officials from various ministries attended the meeting.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Zahid said: “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been working on the Family Card for a long time. Today, he approved it in the presence of the concerned ministers, advisers and senior officials.”

Under the programme, beneficiaries will receive Tk2,500 per month in financial assistance through the card.

“There will be no discrimination. It will be given to deserving people,” the minister said.

He added that information would be collected through door-to-door visits, with selection based on field-level data. “No one will be discriminated against or excluded. There is no intelligence or party involvement in this,” he said.

Zahid also noted that the programme is being launched on a pilot basis and the piloting process will be completed within the next four months. Gradually, all upazilas will be brought under the scheme.

“We may not be able to cover an entire upazila at first. It may begin with a ward or a union and expand in phases. Eventually, the whole country will come under its coverage,” he added.