Desk Report:
Minister for Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain said that Universal Family Card will be issued within the next four years. This card will be in the name of the female head of every family, which will be an honorable recognition as a citizen.
The minister said this while meeting a three-member delegation led by Jean Pesme, the World Bank’s Divisional Director for Bangladesh, at his office in the Secretariat on Sunday (March 29, 2026). State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin was present at the time.
The minister presented information related to the implementation of the ‘Family Card’, one of the election promises of the current government. He said that so far, family cards have been issued in the names of 37,567 female heads of families, who are receiving financial assistance of Tk 2,500 per month.
Director Jean Pesme congratulated the Minister and the State Minister on behalf of the World Bank. He termed the initiative of the current government to issue family cards in the name of female heads of households as a positive step to strengthen social security. He assured cooperation in the implementation of the family card program and expressed his hope to work jointly with the Ministry of Social Welfare and Women and Child Affairs to establish social security and good governance.
In the meeting, both sides agreed to work jointly for the sustainable implementation of the family card issue, which is one of the election promises of the current government.
Social Welfare Secretary Dr. Mohammad Abu Yusuf, Additional Secretary Nargis Khanam and Joint Secretary Mohammad Nazmul Ahsan were present during the meeting.
