The government has decided to expand the Family Card programme to 4.1 million beneficiaries from the next fiscal year (FY 2026-27) as part of its broader effort to strengthen the social-safety net as per the ruling party's pre-election pledges.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the cabinet committee on social-safety nets, headed by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, at the Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital on Thursday.
Sources said the meeting was informed that around Tk 127 billion would require in the FY27 to finance the programme.
The meeting also discussed funding requirements for the proposed Farmers Card scheme, allowances for mosque and other religious institution workers, canal excavation and tree plantation programmes, which are set to be included under the social safety net initiatives from the next fiscal year.
In addition, the meeting decided to increase the number of beneficiaries under existing social safety net schemes.
According to sources, the meeting discussed that with the inclusion of new schemes, total welfare payments through cash transfers alone would rise to Tk 380 billion from the current Tk 230 billion.
At present, 29 out of 30 cash-based programmes are delivered through the government-to-person (G2P) system, meaning funds are transferred directly to mobile financial service wallets such as bKash and Nagad or to beneficiaries' bank accounts, according to the finance ministry officials.
syful-islam@outlook.com
Family Card beneficiaries to rise to 4.1m in FY27
FE REPORT | Published: May 07, 2026 23:16:39
Family Card beneficiaries to rise to 4.1m in FY27
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