TDS Desk:

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit Bogura on 10 March to inaugurate the “Family Card” programme, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam announced today (27 February).

Speaking to reporters at Mahasthangarh in Bogura’s Shibganj, Alam said Ward-3 of Shakharia union under Bogura Sadar upazila has been selected for the pilot phase of the programme and field-level data collection is already underway to identify prospective beneficiaries.

The four-month pilot phase will run on a trial basis, following which the programme is planned to be gradually expanded to other upazilas nationwide, according to sources.

Each cardholding family will receive financial assistance of Tk2,500 per month.

Under this initiative, women from extremely poor, poor and lower-income families nationwide will be eligible for Family Cards, with one woman from each beneficiary family registered as the designated cardholder.

Separate district and upazila-level committees have been formed to implement the programme, headed by the deputy commissioner and the upazila nirbahi officer respectively, the state minister said.

Committees have also been constituted at the union and ward levels, he added.