Bangladesh’s planned Family Card programme for poor households faces allegations of politicisation, nepotism and irregular recruitment before its formal launch on August 16. The report, published August 13, says disputes concern the appointment of data collectors and supervisors in districts and upazilas across the country. The government is scheduled to inaugurate the programme in Ward 8 of Latifabad Union in Kishoreganj Sadar, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman named as the inaugurator.

The programme aims to cover 16 million families within four years, following a pilot phase. The government says beneficiary information will be regularly updated to include genuinely poor households and that oversight committees will operate from union to national level. The report cites allegations involving recruitment lists in Satkhira, Shyamnagar, Kishoreganj, Naogaon, Gaibandha and other areas, including claims about political affiliations and relatives receiving posts. Some appointments were reportedly cancelled after complaints.

Protests, human chains and sieges of UNO offices were reported in Nikli, Fulchhari and Kumarkhali. Results for recruitment examinations in Dighalia, Paikgachha and Terokhada upazilas of Khulna were reportedly suspended amid the controversy. National Citizen Party chief organiser Sarjis Alam also alleged local politicisation in the provision of honoraria for mosque imams and muezzins.