Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday said the government would not deviate “even slightly” from the commitments it made to voters, although implementation could take longer because of global uncertainties.
“This country is our first and last destination,” he said, urging citizens to remain patient as the government moves to implement its election pledges.
“We understand the expectations people have from the elected government. Taking that reality into account, we have begun implementing our commitments. I request the nation, through the media, to face the situation with patience and work together to build the country.”
The prime minister made the remarks while inaugurating a pilot programme for distributing family cards at the T&T ground in Banani, near the Korail slum area in the capital.
Before delivering his speech, he handed family cards to 17 female heads of households.
The prime minister’s spouse Zubaida Rahman attended the event as a special guest.
Rahman said the pledges outlined in the election manifesto would remain unchanged, although the ongoing situation in the Middle East could delay implementation of some commitments.
He said the election held on 12 February had established a government accountable to the people and that work to implement the manifesto had begun soon after the government assumed office.
The launch of the family card programme marks an important step in that process, he added.
Women’s empowerment focus
Rahman said women constitute half of Bangladesh’s population and empowering them is essential for the country’s progress.
“If we leave half of the population behind or fail to empower them through education and economic opportunities, the country cannot move forward,” he said.
He recalled that during the BNP government led by Khaleda Zia, education for girls from school to intermediate level was made free across the country.
The current government now aims to strengthen women’s economic empowerment, he said. “As part of that plan, we have begun introducing the family card programme across Bangladesh in phases.”
The programme is designed to help women become economically self-reliant.
In the first phase, 37,567 women from 14 districts are receiving family cards. Of them, nearly 15,000 women from the Korail, Sattola and Bhasantek areas of the capital are included.
Family cards have also been distributed in 13 other districts and 13 city corporation areas.
Rahman said the government plans to expand the programme gradually so that female heads of all four crore families in the country receive the cards within five years.
After handing over the cards, the prime minister pressed a button on a laptop to transfer government cash assistance directly to beneficiaries, drawing applause from the audience.
Social Welfare Minister AZM Zahid Hossain, who chaired the programme, and State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin also spoke.
