The government has planned to introduce ‘Family Card’ on a pilot basis before the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, said Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo on Thursday. “As far as I know, the prime minister wants to begin it as a pilot project before Eid,” he told reporters responding to a question after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat. The minister said the Family Card issue was elaborately mentioned in the ruling party’s election manifesto and today’s discussion focused on how to implement the program. Asked how many families would initially receive the card, Mintoo said the program is intended to be universal and will not have restrictions. The program may begin with the ultra-poor, then expand to the poor and later to the middle class in phases,” he said.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 19, 2026 08:38 UTC