Disbursement of social safety net allowances among poor people before the holy Eid-Ul-Fitr using Nagad have brought joy among the poor section of people across the country.
The government distributed around Taka 861 crore among nearly 58 lakh beneficiaries across the country using this MFS carrier in just four days before Eid.
Such cash aid came as a surprise to many poor people who were trying to find a way to buy food and clothes for their family members ahead of Eid.
To shed light on how government's pre-Eid "gifts" put smiles on people's face, physically challenged Delwar Hossain from Manikganj's Ghior village said, "I was feeling helpless. I had no idea how I could arrange improved diet for my children on Eid day."
"On the night before Eid, I became surprised when I received Tk 2,550 in my Nagad wallet," he said with a smiling face.
Delwar bought four packets of Shemai, sugar, cooking oil and meat with the money.
Not Delwar alone, thousands of poor families celebrated Eid with joy after receiving cash support from the Social Welfare Department.
And Nagad ensured the smooth disbursements to the beneficiaries in a transparent way.
Talking about the successful disbursement of government allowances, Tanvir A Mishuk, founder and managing director of Nagad Limited said, "We're very delighted to have disbursed social safety net allowances to real beneficiaries. Such pre-Eid cash support made their Eid more joyful."
"We also feel honoured as we could play a part in the government's effort to bring happiness to poor people ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr," Mishuk pointed out.
Whatever Nagad does, it always gives priority to people's welfare, he said, adding, "Our motto is to ease people's life through our digital services, and we will continue to do so."
Mishuk said from the beginning Nagad had been the first choice for the government in disbursing government's allowances, education stipends and other cash aid because the MFS carrier ensured transparency by plugging all anomalies.
There was a time when disbursements of social safety net allowances were riddled with irregularities as ghost beneficiaries, relatives of local public representatives and the non-poor would get into the list, depriving many deserving ones.
But, the situation has now changed completely after Nagad took responsibility and digitalised the entire disbursement system, ensuring transparency.
In this way, the allowances are now reaching intended beneficiaries directly.
In 2021 and 2022, Nagad successfully disbursed 75 percent of all the social safety net allowances, such as old-age allowance, widow allowance, allowance for the underprivileged with special needs and students with special needs.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha