Calling on everyone to remain vigilant to ensure the country’s stability, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday said those trying to mislead the public about the BNP government must be given a fitting response

Piloting of the Family Card Programme, a massive initiative of the newly elected BNP government to streamline the weak social safety net, has passed with little or no controversy

On a low-lying island in Patuakhali, 32-year-old Tanjila Begum’s husband works irregularly as a day labourer in nearby watermelon fields, where seasonal tidal surges often destroy crops and wipe out daily earnings.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will officially launch the Family Card programme for the current fiscal year on August 16 at Ward 8 of Latifabad Union in Kishoreganj Sadar upazila, Social Welfare Minister Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said yesterday.

Programme will initially cover 41 lakh beneficiaries this fiscal year, with plans to reach nearly 1.6 crore families within four years

The government will conduct regular impact assessments to evaluate how Family Card beneficiaries are using their allowances and whether the programme is improving their living standards, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said yesterday.

the minister said after chairing the fourth meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Family Card Distribution at the secretariat in the capital

When one crore handwritten Family Cards were verified with NIDs, a single exercise in duplicate removal resulted in the cancellation of 43 lakh cards.

The social welfare ministry has drawn up an ambitious plan to implement the Family Card programme, a major electoral pledge of the new government, involving an outlay of Tk 1,34,000 crore over four years.

The finance ministry has found a host of anomalies in the pilot of the Family Card programme, as the government seeks to iron out irregularities and ensure the BNP’s flagship social welfare initiative can withstand the scrutiny of development partners.

The social welfare ministry has sought Tk 14,179 crore in the next budget to implement five programmes outlined in the BNP’s electoral manifesto, including an expansion of the Family Card scheme and housing for floating and displaced people living in Dhaka’s slums.

The first and most pressing concern that arises from this programme is the fiscal sustainability that it requires.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s development strategy of putting people first is a breath of fresh air.

Finds new study, says impact will depend on accurate targeting and transparent beneficiary selection

Public debate has been energetic but confusing. People hear "universal" in one statement, then "starting with the ultra-poor" in another, then learn of a pilot in selected upazilas. These are not details for technicians to iron out later.

Government must not allow partisan influence, scammers to undermine its impact

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged people to remain patient amid current global challenges, saying the government may need more time to fulfil some of its promises but will not deviate from its commitments.

The Daily Star finds at least 52 AI-generated videos and 31 Facebook pages using deepfakes of Tarique Rahman and his family to lure users into sharing personal details

Says more time may be needed amid current global challenges

Government to provide Tk 2,500 monthly allowance to beneficiary families through mobile wallets or bank accounts