Bangladesh, Aug. 7 -- Some 16 million families will benefit from the state annuity as the government is going to formally launch the 'Family Card' programme on August 16 on completion of piloting under a project.

Advertisement Officials said Thursday Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would inaugurate the aid-to-the-poor programme, an election pledge of his party, in Latifabad Union under Kishoreganj Sadar upazila.

After the inauguration, some 16 million families will be brought under coverage of the Family Card recipe gradually over four years. The programme will be started in every upazila and union of the country in phases by the end of October.

Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain disclosed these after a meeting of the C...