Women receive relief as govt launches ‘Family Card’ allowance

The distribution of government-sponsored "Family Cards" has brought a sigh of relief to underprivileged women struggling to earn their livelihoods today.

“It will help me to cover my son’s education expenses and meet household needs,” said Nur Nahar, 45, a woman of Char Jhikuri village under Rajbari’s Pangsha upazila.

“A few days ago, some Department of Social Services officers collected our information by visiting our house. I then received an SMS on Monday confirming the amount of money. Today [Tuesday], I got the card,” she said.

Like her, a total of 1,201 women in Rajbari received Family Cards.

The programme was formally inaugurated on the Pangsha Upazila Parishad premises around 10:00am with Dr Rashed Al Mahmud, adviser for the Ministry of Finance and Planning, as the chief guest.

Speaking to journalists, Dr Rashed Al Mamun said the initiative recognises the contribution and labour of women. “We have distributed Family Cards to strengthen the foundation of the economy. For the first time, these cards have been given without considering any political affiliation,” he said.

On the other hand, a resident of Noya Bati Gol Chattar in Khulna city, Shahida Begum, 65, whose husband died around 10 years ago, said she is very happy to have received her card.

“Nowadays, I cannot work due to my illness as I am getting older. This card will help me buy my daily essentials,” she added.

With her, a total of 4,158 beneficiaries from Ward-10 in Khulna obtained Family Cards.

Forty-five-year-old Golapi Rani of Rahimanpur village under Thakurgaon Sadar upazila said, “We had been struggling hard to cope with the price of daily essentials. The card is a blessing for us.”

She said this after receiving a replica of the Family Card from the LGRD Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the Rahimanpur UI Dakhil Madrasa ground.

Inaugurating the programme there, Mirza Fakhrul said the newly introduced Family Card is not merely a form of financial assistance but a means of strengthening and empowering families.

Some 590 women from ward-2 of Rahimanpur union have been brought under the financial assistance programme through the Family Card.

The cards were also distributed to 86 beneficiaries of Bancharampur upazila of Brahmanbaria and 1,097 from Lama upazila of Bandarban.

Moreover, 486 women of ward- 4 of Aslampur union in Charfesson upazila of Bhola will receive the benefit in the first phase.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman formally launched the “Family Card” programme, aimed at supporting women, in Dhaka today (Tuesday).

Under the “Family Card” initiative, the government will provide a monthly allowance of Tk 2,500 to each of 37,567 women in 14 areas, including two in the capital.

The14 selected areas under the pilot phase are Banani (Korail, Sat Tala, and Bhashantek slums) and Mirpur/Shah Ali (Oli Miar Tek and Baganbari slums) in Dhaka; Pangsha in Rajbari; Patenga in Chattogram; Bancharampur in Brahmanbaria; Lama in Bandarban; Khalishpur in Khulna; Charfesson in Bhola; Derai in Sunamganj; Bhairab in Kishoreganj; Bogura Sadar upazila; Lalpur in Natore; Thakurgaon Sadar upazila; and Nawabganj in Dinajpur.

[Our correspondents from Faridpur, Khulna, Thakurgaon, Brahmanbaria, Bandarban and Barishal contributed to the report]