Dhaka: Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain has announced that the proposed Family Card programme is poised to play a crucial role in ensuring comprehensive social protection for the people of Bangladesh. He emphasized that the Family Card has already gained significant traction among low-income groups in the country during a meeting with a Chinese delegation led by Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen at his office in the Bangladesh Secretariat.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, State Minister Farzana Sharmeen and Social Welfare Secretary Dr. Mohammad Abu Yousuf were also present at the meeting. Dr. Zahid underscored China’s longstanding friendship with Bangladesh, highlighting their development cooperation, strategic partnership, and mutual respect. He noted China’s global leadership in technology, particularly in smart card systems, which could serve as a model for Bangladesh’s Family Card programme.
The minister reiterated the government’s electoral promise to implement the Family Card initiative, which aims to provide family-based social protection covering areas such as education, healthcare, nutrition security, poverty alleviation, and women’s empowerment. He suggested that China’s transparent and technology-driven social protection systems could offer valuable insights for Bangladesh in executing the programme effectively.
Ambassador Yao Wen commended the government’s initiative, acknowledging the growing popularity of the Family Card among low-income groups in Bangladesh. He expressed China’s readiness to enhance cooperation and friendship with Bangladesh, not only in infrastructure but also in the social protection sector. Both parties agreed on the importance of strengthening mutual cooperation to bolster the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.