Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said that the government has taken necessary steps to formulate and implement action plans based on a 180-day programme to implement the commitments made in the election manifesto.
"In line with the election manifesto, several important programmes have already been taken up on a priority basis and significant progress has been achieved in implementing those," he said in reply to a starred question from treasury bench member from Pabna-5 Md Shamsur Rahman Simul Biswasin in the parliament with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair.
Tarique Rahman, also ruling BNP chairman, said his government has initiated the 'Family Card' programme, considering the family as the core unit of development.
The programme has been launched with providing Taka 2,500 per month through 'Family Card' to the female heads of 37,814 families in 13 districts and three city corporations primarily to give protection to marginalized and low-income families, he added.
The Prime Minister also said the 'Farmer Card' programme was launched on April 14 aimed at ensuring agricultural development and providing benefits to farmers such as subsidized agricultural inputs, irrigation facilities, and easy access to agricultural loans and machinery.
In the pre-pilot phase, he said, the programme is being implemented in 11 agricultural blocks across 11 upazilas in 10 districts.
Additionally, as per the ruling BNP's election pledge, Tarique Rahman said agricultural loans up to Taka 10,000 in crops, livestock, and fisheries sectors have been waived.
To this end, he said, the government has already allocated a budget of Taka 1,567.96 crore, benefiting about 13 lakh 17 thousand 500 farmers across the country.