Over 60,000 voluntary social welfare organisations active in country

Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain has informed parliament that the Department of Social Services has registered a total of 71,591 voluntary social welfare organisations across the country. Of these, 60,286 are currently active, while 11,305 have been dissolved.

In the 2024–25 fiscal year, a total of 4,221 organisations received grants amounting to Tk110 million, he said.

The minister disclosed the information on Wednesday while responding to a scripted question from BNP MP Md Shawkatul Islam (Moulvibazar-2) during the question-and-answer session. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad presided over the sitting.

Zahid said one-time grants are provided by the Bangladesh National Social Welfare Council in favour of registered and active voluntary social welfare organisations.

Responding to a tabled question from treasury bench member Sk Md Rejaul Islam (Naogaon-6), the minister said the government has set a target to distribute a total of four million family cards across the country by June 2027.

Under the programme, the cards will be issued gradually to women who manage their households, with ultra-poor, poor, and lower-middle-income families receiving Tk2,500 per month in cash assistance.

He added that the number of beneficiaries will be increased in the 2026–27 fiscal year in line with the government’s action plan.