NEW YORK: Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced plans to introduce a “Universal Card” by integrating various government social-protection and assistance programmes into a unified system.
Addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, Tarique said the government wanted to ensure that the benefits of economic growth and prosperity reached every family and citizen.
He said the government had already introduced support programmes for economically disadvantaged people through initiatives including the Family Card, Farmers’ Card, Sports Card and e-Health Card.
“The government also plans to introduce a ‘Universal Card’ by integrating the cards introduced to provide support in different sectors,” he said.
Tarique described the Family Card, which is issued in the name of the female head of each household, as a symbol of women’s economic empowerment. He said the government was seeking to advance economic inclusion alongside electoral democracy.
The proposal for a Universal Card is not new. Tarique had previously discussed the idea in Bangladesh’s parliament, where he said various welfare programmes could eventually be consolidated through a single platform.
However, the prime minister did not provide details in his UN address about the timeline for launching the Universal Card, the categories of people who would initially qualify or the precise mechanism through which the different programmes would be integrated.
During his address, Tarique also highlighted the government’s plans concerning women’s empowerment, education, employment, technology and artificial intelligence, climate change and the Rohingya crisis.
He said the government was working to reduce development disparities between urban and rural areas and advance inclusive and sustainable development.
The prime minister also said Bangladesh had allocated funds to support young entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators and was working to expand employment opportunities and develop the country as a manufacturing hub.
The Universal Card proposal is part of the government’s broader social-protection agenda, with the stated aim of coordinating assistance across different sectors through a more integrated system.