Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday launched a canal excavation programme and the 2nd phase of the ‘Family Card’ scheme at his ancestral village – Bagbari – in Gabtali upazila of Bogura.
He formally inaugurated the excavation work on the Chowkidah canal at Nasipur around 3:45pm by cutting soil with a spade.
Earlier, the Prime Minister launched the 2nd phase of the ‘Family Card’ programme, distributing cards among 911 beneficiaries at the Shaheed Zia Degree College ground in Bagbari.
BNP’s party song, “Prothom Bangladesh Amar Shesh Bangladesh”, was performed at the event.
Tarique Rahman, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, and Social Welfare Minister AZM Zahid Hossain joined in, along with supporters.
As part of the BNP’s electoral pledge to improve living standards through women’s empowerment, the Prime Minister launched the ‘Family Card’ programme in Dhaka on March 10.
The scheme will be implemented on a pilot basis in 14 upazilas, covering 37,567 women-headed households by June. Each family will receive Tk 2,500 per month.
The cards have been developed using contactless chip, QR code and NFC technology. They will be issued in the name of the mother or female head of the household. The government plans to transform the system into a universal social ID card by 2030.