Dhaka, May 8 -- The government has decided to expand the Family Card programme to 4.1 million beneficiaries from the next fiscal year (FY 2026-27) as part of its broader effort to strengthen the social-safety net as per the ruling party's pre-election pledges.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the cabinet committee on social-safety nets, headed by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, at the Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital on Thursday.

Sources said the meeting was informed that around Tk 127 billion would require in the FY27 to finance the programme.

The meeting also discussed funding requirements for the proposed Farmers Card scheme, allowances for mosque and other religious institution workers, canal ...