Citizen's Platform for SDGs proposes Tk4,540 monthly cash aid for poor families
Overall cost put at Tk1.20 lakh crore, 2% GDP
Citizen's Platform for SDG proposals
- Interest-free youth loans up to Tk1 lakh
- Annual Tk1 lakh health cover for elderly
- Mid-day meals in government schools
- Smart cards for all farmers
- National labour market information platform
- Community childcare for working women
- Integrated urban public transport system
- Integrated tax system
- National integrated data repository
The Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, has proposed providing Tk4,540 in monthly cash support to each family living below the poverty line under a scheme described as a "universal minimum income."
The proposal was presented today (15 January) at a media briefing by Towfiqul Islam Khan, additional director (research) at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and a core group member of the Citizen Platform at a city hotel in the capital.
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Titled "National Election 2026: Citizen Recommendations for the Next Government," the media briefing was organised by Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh and chaired by Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh Convener Debapriya Bhattacharya.
Distinguished Fellow Dr Mustafizur Rahman also spoke at the event.
Towfiqul Islam Khan outlined 10 proposals, including the introduction of a youth credit card to ensure that financially disadvantaged young people are not held back in building their future. Under the proposal, youths would be eligible for interest-free and collateral-free loans of up to Tk1 lakh, while families would be entitled to annual medical treatment worth up to Tk1 lakh.
"Implementing these proposals would require around Tk1.20 lakh crore, which is equivalent to 2% of the country's GDP," he said.
Phased rollout of cash assistance
Explaining the proposed cash support programme, Towfiqul Islam Khan said the organisation recommends bringing 28 lakh families in 11 poverty-prone districts under the scheme in the first phase, followed by 80 lakh families in 36 districts in the second phase, and eventually 1.47 crore families nationwide in the final phase.
"We have also proposed reassessing the list of beneficiary families every two years using a poverty scorecard," he added.
He said implementing the programme in 36 districts would cost the government Tk40,600 crore per year, equivalent to 0.73% of GDP.
"If implemented, the programme would help prevent vulnerable groups from falling further behind due to job insecurity, disasters, and limited access to credit," he said.
Youth credit card
The Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh said the proposed youth credit card would enable disadvantaged young people to meet the high costs associated with education, skills development, and job applications.
Under the proposal, the annual cost to the government for the youth credit card scheme would be Tk1,000 crore, which would be recoverable, while an additional Tk134 crore would be required as service charges, it said.
National health card for elderly citizens
The Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh also proposed introducing a "national health card" to ease concerns over medical expenses and ensure access to healthcare, allowing families to receive medical treatment worth up to Tk1 lakh per year.
In the first phase, the organisation proposes bringing 61 lakh elderly people currently covered under the old-age allowance scheme under the programme.
"If 61 lakh elderly citizens under the old-age allowance scheme are brought under this facility, the total annual cost would be Tk61,000 crore, which is equivalent to 1% of GDP," Towfiqul Islam Khan said.
He added that the programme would help ensure that poor and elderly people are not deprived of emergency medical services and would prevent poor, elderly, and vulnerable groups from becoming impoverished due to medical expenses.
Farmers, schools, and urban services
The Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh also recommended distributing smart cards to all genuine farmers nationwide to ensure that all types of services reach farmers effectively. Under the proposal, 1.65 crore farming households, including both male and female farmers, would be brought under the scheme.
In addition, the platform proposed introducing mid-day meals in government schools, establishing a national labour market information exchange platform, setting up community-based childcare centres for working women, developing an integrated public transport system in urban areas, implementing an integrated tax system, and creating a national integrated data repository.
