PM pledges gradual rollout of election promises, urges patience

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today (10 March) assured that his government will gradually implement all its election pledges 'at any cost' to change people's fortunes and promote the development of the country.

"We will fulfil the promises we have made to the people one by one. These are the commitments that will change the fate of people and transform the destiny of the country. We will try to implement them at any cost," he said while addressing the formal launch of the Family Card Pilot Programme at T&T Playground in Banani in his constituency.

He also urged the people of the country to face the evolving situation following the Middle East crisis with patience and to build the country in a positive and constructive way.

He described the day of launching the Family Card as an emotional one as it allowed him to fulfil a promise he had made to the people before the election.

Tarique Rahman said his government understands that the people of the country have many expectations from the elected administration.

At the same time, he said, taking into account the realities and the current global situation — including circumstances in the Middle East — it might take longer in some cases to implement certain pledges.

Photo: Courtesy

However, the Prime Minister emphasised that the government would not deviate in the slightest from the promises it had made.

He urged people across the country to face the overall situation with patience and to work together to build the country in a positive and constructive manner.

Tarique Rahman expressed his firm belief that his government will gradually be able to deliver the Family Card to women heads of all four crore families in Bangladesh within the next five years.

Earlier, he formally launched the government's Family Card programme for women-led households, fulfilling his election pledge to support women's empowerment, economic inclusion and social justice.

Just three weeks after the formation of government following a massive election victory, the Prime Minister launched the Family Card at T&T playground in Banani.

Tarique Rahman first handed over a family card to Pervin Begum at around 11:19am. Later, several other women also received the cards from the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister formally launched the Family Card programme by pressing a button on a laptop at 11:30am, after which the selected recipients automatically received the money in their accounts.

The programme began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran and readings from other religious scriptures at around 10:44am.

BNP's theme song, "Prothom Bangladesh Amar, Shesh Bangladesh" ("My First Bangladesh, My Last Bangladesh"), was also played.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Farzana Sharmin, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Shafiqul Islam Milton, and Social Welfare Ministry Secretary Dr Mohammad Abu Yousuf spoke at the programme, with Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain in the chair.

Cabinet members, members of parliament, diplomats, senior civil and military officials, and other dignitaries were present at the function.

The Prime Minister, along with his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, arrived at the venue earlier at 10:32am and spoke with several women who had come to receive family cards.

The program reflects the government's pledge to advance national progress and fairness in society by strengthening women's roles and formally acknowledging them as primary family representatives within social welfare initiatives.

In its pilot stage, the programme is being rolled out in 15 wards across 13 city corporations and unions spanning 13 districts across the country, according to the Social Welfare Ministry.