Staff Reporter:
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has appeared on a podcast for the first time, outlining a new social welfare initiative titled the “Family Card”, aimed at supporting families—particularly women—across Bangladesh.
The podcast, aired at 7:00pm on Thursday, was broadcast on the BNP’s official Facebook page, YouTube channel, and other social media platforms.
In the first episode, Tarique presented his plan as part of the party’s broader agenda should it win the upcoming national election.
Addressing viewers, Tarique said he wanted to share “a thought, an idea, and a plan” ahead of the polls.
“If we receive your mandate and are able to form a government, we will have to work for the country and its people,” he said, adding that the Family Card would be among the initiatives prioritised by a BNP-led government.
According to Tarique, the Family Card is designed for mothers and homemakers and would be distributed on a family basis.
He noted that Bangladesh has around four crore families, about 70% of whom live in rural areas and the remaining 30% in urban regions.
The programme, he said, would begin in villages and selected low-income areas of cities, focusing initially on poor, ultra-poor, lower-income and lower-middle-income families.
Under the plan, eligible women would receive a card containing their name, a unique number, a validity period, and scannable features. Distribution would be phased, with the stated goal of eventually reaching all families.
Tarique said the card would entitle beneficiaries to monthly assistance worth between Tk2,000 and Tk2,500, either in cash or in essential food items sufficient for a five-member family.
He explained that such support could cover a significant portion of a family’s basic monthly food expenses, easing household financial pressure and allowing families to save.
He added that the assistance would likely be used by mothers to improve their children’s nutrition and education, and, where possible, to make small investments that could generate additional household income.
Over time, he said, this would help strengthen families’ economic foundations.
Tarique emphasised that the Family Card would be universal in principle, intended for all mothers and wives regardless of profession or social status—from farmers’ and rickshaw-pullers’ wives to the spouses of teachers and senior government officials.
However, he expressed confidence that those who do not need the support would voluntarily return it, enabling greater assistance for families in genuine need.
“If those who do not require it return the benefit, we may even be able to increase the amount for those who truly need support,” he said.
Calling the initiative a concrete plan rather than a “story,” Tarique said that if elected, a BNP government would gradually roll out the Family Card nationwide.
He concluded that while the card may seem small at first, collective support for families could ultimately help build a stronger, more prosperous Bangladesh.
The podcast ended with Tarique saying more details would be shared as implementation begins, and he signed off by wishing the audience well.
