The BNP government’s family card program was rightfully seen as a positive, designed to ease the burden of rising living costs for low‑income households. For many families, it has indeed brought relief.
However, as per the report from Dhaka Tribune on the situation in Korail, residents say they have been left out despite being among Dhaka’s most vulnerable. This highlights a critical flaw: Support cannot be effective if it does not reach the right people.
This is a core challenge for social safety that Bangladesh must confront. Social protection schemes only work when they are equitable, transparent, and grounded in accurate data.
When deserving communities are excluded, when distribution lists are incomplete, or when selection processes rely on outdated or inconsistent criteria, the very purpose of these programs is undermined.
Korail is not an isolated case. Across the country, informal settlements, migrant workers, and low‑income households often fall through the cracks because they are not formally registered, lack documentation, or live in areas where administrative mapping is weak.
These are precisely the groups most in need of assistance, yet are frequently the ones left out.
We must do better. Whether that means updating beneficiary lists regularly, using digital tools to verify eligibility, or working closely with local administrations and community leaders who understand the realities on the ground, no stone must be left unturned.
Most important is ensuring that political influence or bureaucratic shortcuts do not distort who receives support.
Equity must be the guiding principle. Relief programs cannot be judged solely by how many cards are distributed, but by who receives them. If the poorest communities remain excluded, the program’s success is incomplete.
Social protection is not just about distribution. It is about fairness. And fairness demands that no vulnerable community is left behind.
