Dhaka: State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin today emphasized that the Family Card is not merely an assistance program but is a modern charter for the economic emancipation of the country’s marginalized communities. She highlighted its role in establishing a transparent and humane relationship between the state and its citizens, aiming to transform Bangladesh into a developed and discrimination-free welfare state by 2030, ensuring that no one is left behind.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Farzana Sharmin made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a shadow parliament debate competition on social safety net programs’ priorities in the budget. The event was organized by Debate for Democracy at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation in the capital. She assured that during the current government’s tenure, there would be no political interference or corruption in the issuance of Family Cards, addressing previous issues of irregularities and nepotism.
The minister elaborated on the systematic approach being used to ensure genuine beneficiaries are selected through the Integrated Budget and Accounting System (iBAS) method, which involves door-to-door scoring and is devoid of partisan considerations. This approach aligns with the BNP government’s electoral pledge, making the Family Card initiative a flagship program without fear of an increased debt burden due to universal social security programs.
Farzana Sharmin further criticized the previous government’s actions in systematically destroying various institutions, making the country dependent on others. She pointed out that the current administration, led by Minister Tarique Rahman, is focused on projects aimed at improving the living standards of marginalized communities, contrasting with the previous emphasis on unnecessary mega-projects that extended timelines and increased costs, fostering corruption.