Family cards must be distributed transparently: Info minister

BARISHAL, Feb 27 (BSS): Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan, MP, has emphasised that family cards should be distributed transparently, without favoritism or nepotism, to ensure that the genuine beneficiaries receive government assistance.
He said a team will be formed in each union under the leadership of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) to ensure proper selection of beneficiaries. This team will include the union chairman and two social workers.
Through this team, the eligibility of beneficiaries must be verified and family cards distributed in a completely non-partisan manner ensuring transparency, he added.
The minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at a view-exchange meeting with district-level officials at the conference room of Barishal Circuit House on Friday.
Emphasizing the importance of accuracy in the work of the Bureau of Statistics, he noted that the level of civilization and the institutional strength of a state depend on reliable statistics.
He observed that maintaining such accuracy requires precise data collection, proper preservation of records, and timely dissemination of information.
The minister added that the most important factor in modern decision-making is a database system, and without a proper database system, correct decisions cannot be made.
Stressing the need to modernise healthcare services in Barishal, the information minister said despite being the capital of southern Bangladesh, the region still lacks advanced medical facilities.
It is difficult and costly for ordinary people to take critically ill patients to Dhaka for better treatment, he said, saying that to address this crisis, transforming Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital into a modern facility with advanced amenities is now a demand of the time.