Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has proposed a combined allocation of Tk 15,562.5 crore for the Family Card and Krishak Card programmes in the FY2026-27 budget, underscoring the government’s focus on strengthening social protection and supporting the agricultural sector.
Of the total allocation, Tk 14,500 crore has been earmarked for the Family Card Programme, while Tk 1,062.5 crore has been proposed for the Krishak Card scheme. The allocations account for 1.55 per cent and 0.11 per cent respectively of the proposed Tk 9.38 lakh crore national budget.
Presenting the budget in the Jatiya Sangsad, the finance minister said the government plans to bring about 4.1 million women under the Family Card Programme in the next fiscal year.
He said the programme will gradually replace allowance-based components of other social protection schemes. By 2030, the government aims to transform the Family Card into a Universal Social ID Card for every citizen of Bangladesh.
Information related to each household’s family tree is also being incorporated into the Family Card database.
To promote women’s empowerment, the Family Card is issued directly in the name of the mother or female head of the household, strengthening their economic and social position within the family and society.
Under the programme, beneficiaries receive a monthly allowance of Tk 2,500 directly through mobile financial services or bank accounts under the Government-to-Person (G2P) system. The minister said the amount is nearly three times higher than benefits under existing social safety net programmes.
Currently, 60,044 female heads of households are receiving allowances under the pilot phase of the programme.
The finance minister said the scheme is designed to identify genuinely poor households and improve their access to food security, education, healthcare and opportunities for self-reliance.
For the agricultural sector, Tk 1,062.5 crore has been proposed for the Krishak Card Programme. Under the scheme, landless, marginal and small farmers will receive annual cash assistance of Tk 2,500 along with 10 additional benefits.
