The government will formally launch its “Family Card” programme on March 10, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman set to inaugurate the initiative in Bogura sadar upazila.

The announcement was made on Friday by Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister A Z M Zahid Hossain.

State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam also said the prime minister would visit Bogura on March 10 to open the distribution programme.

Speaking briefly before prayers at the shrine of Mahasthangarh and Shah Sultan Balkhi (R), he noted that this would be Tarique Rahman’s first visit to Bogura as prime minister.

For the pilot phase, ward No. 3 of Shakharia union in Bogura Sadar has been selected. Field-level data collection is already underway to identify eligible beneficiary families.

To ensure smooth implementation, separate district- and upazila-level committees have been formed, headed by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and the Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) respectively.

Committees have also been constituted at union and ward levels.

According to relevant sources, each cardholding family will receive Tk 2,500 per month in financial assistance. Women from extremely poor, poor and lower-income families will be brought under the programme, with one woman from each family registered as the cardholder.

All families deemed eligible within a ward are expected to receive the Family Card. The pilot project will run for four months before being gradually expanded to other upazilas across the country.