PM to launch Family Card trial distribution at Korail slum on 10 Mar

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will launch the trial distribution of Family Cards at Korail slum in the capital on 10 March, said Social Welfare Minister AZM Zahid Hossain on Tuesday.

Previously the inauguration of distribution under the pilot project was slated to take place in Bogura Sadar Upazila on the same day, but now the venue has been shifted following announcement of schedule for the Bogura-6 by-poll.

PM Tarique’s participation in the inauguration programme would have breached the Election Commission’s (EC) code of conduct, and therefore, the venue has been changed, the social welfare minister told reporters after emerging from a meeting with the prime minister at the Secretariat.

On 10 March, the distribution under the pilot project would be launched simultaneously in 14 other zones across the country. Local ministers and lawmakers would oversee the launch.

The pilot project’s data collection and entry works began on 23 February, Zahid Hossain noted.

Under the pilot scheme, 44,000 families would get the cards in Korail slum and the adjacent Bhashantek area in Dhaka city, 15,000 in Chattogram city, 7,000 in Khalishpur of Khulna city, 750 in Charfesson upazila of Bhola and 550 in Lama upazila of Bandarban.

AZM Zahid Hossain said the cards would be launched in around 10-12 areas across the country. Extreme, poor, poor and lower middle-class people would benefit from the cards. Upper-income and middle-income groups would also get the cards, but they cannot enjoy any benefit.