No room for negligence or bias in family card data collection: Barishal divisional commissioner
Photo: Collected
Barishal Divisional Commissioner Khalil Ahmed has instructed field workers involved in implementing the family card to identify genuine beneficiary families and collect data transparently and accurately.
A training programme for field-level data collectors and supervisors on implementing the family card began this morning at the hall room of the Barishal District Social Services Office. He was the chief guest at its inaugural ceremony. The Barishal district administration, upazila administration and District Social Services Office jointly organised the training.
Khalil Ahmed said there can be no room for any kind of negligence, bias or irregularity while collecting data in the field. Correct and objective data must be gathered, taking into account the actual socioeconomic condition of every family.
Describing the family card as an important public welfare initiative, the divisional commissioner said it must be ensured, with the highest priority, that its benefits reach genuinely underprivileged and eligible families. Selection of beneficiaries and subsequent work will proceed on the basis of the data the collectors gather. So honesty, neutrality and professionalism must be maintained in carrying out the duty.
He also spoke of following government instructions and the set policy, as well as protecting the confidentiality of data and ensuring the proper use of technology.
Barishal Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farida Sultana said collecting accurate data at the field level is the initial and important step in implementing the family card. Because of a single piece of wrong information, a genuine beneficiary could be left off the list, while someone ineligible could get the chance to be included. So every family’s data must be verified on the spot and collected carefully.
In her words, no list can be made in haste, on the basis of guesswork or on the basis of personal acquaintance. Data collectors and supervisors must act responsibly to ensure that no genuine beneficiary is left out and no ineligible person can take the benefit. The work must be seen not merely as an official duty but as important work in the public interest.
Among others, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, director of the Barishal Divisional Social Services Office, Md Iqbal Kabir, deputy director of the District Social Services Office, and Jabir Ahmed, assistant director, were present at the event.
As part of the training, tabs were handed to 36 data collectors responsible for collecting data in the field. Data of beneficiary families will be collected, stored and verified digitally on these tabs.
Background
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the pilot of the family card programme at Banani in Dhaka on 10 March 2026, The Daily Star Bangla reported on 10 March.
Social Welfare Minister AZM Zahid Hossain told a press conference that the main implementation of the family card began in July 2026. Data collection began on 12 October, The Daily Star Bangla reported on 13 October.
By the numbers
According to a Prothom Alo report of 9 March, 67,854 female-headed households were surveyed in 13 districts in the pilot phase. After scrutiny, 37,567 families were selected and Tk 38.07 crore was allocated for four months up to June.
The Social Welfare Ministry said the target is to collect data of about 4.45 crore families by December. A total of 66,815 data collectors and 6,681 supervisors are engaged in the work. The programme’s budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year is Tk 14,500 crore, The Daily Star Bangla reported on 13 October.
In the pilot phase, 71,831 families received cards and allowances based on their Proxy Means Test (PMT) scores. The target is to give cards to another 40 lakh female heads of households in the current fiscal year, The Daily Star Bangla reported on 13 October.
At a glance
The family card is a social protection programme launched targeting female-headed households. Each family receives Tk 2,500 a month, sent to a mobile wallet or bank account. There is a plan to bring about 4 crore families under it in phases, The Daily Star Bangla reported on 10 March.
Sources
Original report: BSS
Background sources: The Daily Star Bangla, 10 March 2026; Prothom Alo, 9 March 2026; The Daily Star Bangla, 13 October 2026
