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Govt begins nationwide data collection for Family Card scheme
Published : Monday, 12 October, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
The government has launched a nationwide data collection drive under the Family Card program, aiming to survey and integrate information from approximately 4.45 crore households into a centralized digital database by December.
Social Welfare Minister Prof. Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain announced the initiative during a press conference held at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room in the Secretariat on Monday (October 12).
State Minister for Social Welfare Farjana Sharmin was also present.
Highlighting the scope of the program, the minister stated that Family Cards will be issued in the name of female heads of households as part of the government's pledge to promote women's empowerment, financial independence, and social justice.
The minister recalled that the Prime Minister inaugurated the piloting phase on March 10. During the pilot period running through June 2026, baseline data was gathered from 1,12,094 households across 57 units in 55 upazilas and city corporations spanning 44 districts.
Based on Proxy Means Test (PMT) scores, 71,831 eligible beneficiaries were selected and issued cards alongside financial allowances. Out of an allocated Tk 86.60 crore for the pilot, Tk 65.73 crore was spent, including Tk 57.20 crore disbursed directly as allowances.
Full-scale implementation began in July, with an overall budgetary allocation of Tk 14,500 crore for the 2026-27 fiscal year, of which Tk 12,300 crore is earmarked exclusively for direct benefit allowances.
Key Features of the Data Collection Drive
To ensure targeted assistance, the government formulated the 'Family Card Implementation Policy, 2026'. Utilizing an updated PMT methodology developed by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), households across the country are categorized into five socioeconomic quintiles: extreme poor, poor, vulnerable lower-income, middle income, and high income.
Eligibility Criteria: All female household heads will receive a Family Card. However, financial allowances will be extended to female household heads in the bottom three quintiles who record a PMT score of 860 or below.
Fieldwork Force: A total of 66,815 enumerators and 6,681 supervisors have been deployed nationwide following the first phase of training.
Digital Data Entry: Fieldworkers will conduct door-to-door visits equipped with specialized tablets to upload verified data directly to an online database via secure mobile networks.
Target Reach: The survey aims to cover approximately 4.45 crore families by December—assuming an average family size of five members.
Minister Zahid Hossain added that the government aims to enroll 40 lakh new female heads of households under the allowance scheme during the current fiscal year, with plans to cover all eligible beneficiaries across the country over the next three fiscal years.
The physical Family Cards will feature dual-chip technology, QR codes, and Near Field Communication (NFC) capabilities linked to the government's 'TakaPay' payment gateway, enabling beneficiaries to withdraw funds via ATMs, Point of Sale (POS) terminals, or Mobile Financial Services (MFS).
-SA
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
