The government has allocated nearly Tk 144,338 crore for social safety net programs in the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2026–27, marking a 14.4% increase from the previous year.
A significant portion of the allocation will go to the flagship Family Card program, which accounts for Tk 14,000 crore.
According to budget documents, the proposed social security allocation represents 15.39% of the national budget and 2.11% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
In the outgoing fiscal year, social safety net spending accounted for 14.78% of the budget and 1.87% of GDP, with an allocation of Tk 116,731 crore.
The number of social safety net programs has been reduced to 90 from 95 in the previous fiscal year as part of efforts to streamline social protection initiatives. In FY2024–25, a total of Tk 136,026 crore was allocated for the sector across 140 programs.
Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, in his budget speech in parliament yesterday, said the government has introduced a Single Registry System to improve transparency and accountability in social protection programs.
“Through this mechanism, funds are transferred directly to beneficiaries’ mobile or bank accounts. The system currently stores information on approximately 40 million beneficiaries, with the capacity to verify an additional 20 million citizens. This has significantly enhanced transparency in beneficiary selection, ensured verification of accounts, and eliminated duplication in the provision of benefits,” he said.
He also said the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Social Welfare are implementing a Dynamic Social Registry (DSR), which will allow citizens to apply directly for social protection benefits from any location.
The proposed budget has allocated Tk 56,229.60 crore for 48 pro-poor programs aimed at poverty reduction.
Family Card program gets largest allocation
The government plans to survey 10 million households to identify 4.1 million eligible families under the Family Card program.
Each selected family will receive Tk 2,500 per month, requiring an allocation of Tk 14,000 crore in FY2026–27—about 9.7% of the total social security budget.
Officials said beneficiaries under the program will not be eligible for other social safety net schemes to prevent overlapping benefits.
To ensure transparency and avoid duplication, the government plans to develop a centralized database containing beneficiaries’ names, addresses, and contact information.
Overall, six new programs linked to the BNP’s electoral commitments are expected to bring around 10 million new beneficiaries under the social protection umbrella.
Farmers’ card and other safety net coverage
The proposed budget includes Tk 1,400 crore for the Farmers’ Card program.
Under the scheme, 4.25 million farmers will receive annual cash assistance of Tk 2,500, along with agricultural support services.
Victims of the July uprising will also receive financial support, with a total allocation of Tk 448 crore for allowances to families of July martyrs and medical assistance for the injured.
According to officials, 16,513 injured individuals will receive monthly allowances ranging from Tk 10,000 to Tk 20,000 depending on the severity of injuries, while families of martyrs will receive monthly honorariums of Tk 20,000.
A new allowance program for religious leaders and caretakers of places of worship has also been included, with an allocation of Tk 1,100 crore.
The initiative will cover 255,666 beneficiaries, including imams, muezzins, khadems, priests, monks, and caretakers of temples, churches, and monasteries.
Under the program, imams will receive Tk 5,000 per month, muezzins Tk 3,000, and khadems Tk 2,000. Similar stipends will be provided to religious functionaries of other faiths.
Expansion of existing programs
The government has also increased allocations and beneficiary coverage under several existing programs.
The old-age allowance program will cover 6.2 million beneficiaries, up by 100,000 from the current fiscal year, while the monthly allowance will rise by Tk 50 to Tk 700.
Similarly, the widow and deserted women allowance program will expand to 3 million beneficiaries, with monthly payments also increasing by Tk 50 to Tk 700.
The disability allowance will be raised from Tk 900 to Tk 1,000 per month, while the number of beneficiaries will increase to 3.9 million. The education stipend for students with disabilities will increase from Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,400.
The Mother and Child Benefit Program will be expanded to nearly 1.9 million beneficiaries, although the monthly allowance will remain unchanged at Tk 850.
According to the budget document, the old-age allowance program will receive Tk 5,239 crore, while the disability allowance and education stipend program will get Tk 4,715 crore. The widow and deserted women allowance program has been allocated Tk 2,535 crore.
A new initiative will provide monthly allowances of Tk 5,000 for up to three months to 15,000 unemployed workers at a cost of around Tk 25 crore.
The Vulnerable Women Benefit Program will continue to support 1.04 million women through the provision of 30 kilograms of rice per month, while the Employment Generation Program for the Poorest will provide seasonal employment to around 370,000 people.
The proposed budget has increased allocation for treatment support for patients suffering from serious illnesses such as cancer, kidney, and liver diseases to Tk 700 crore. The maximum assistance may also be doubled to Tk 100,000 from the existing Tk 50,000.
Freedom fighter benefits largely unchanged
Allowances for freedom fighters will remain largely unchanged in FY2026–27. However, recipients of the Bir Shreshtha, Bir Uttam, Bir Bikram, and Bir Protik gallantry awards will receive an additional Tk 5,000 per month.
Currently, 589 individuals in these categories receive monthly allowances ranging from Tk 20,000 to Tk 35,000.
