Debate on the priority of social protection programs in the upcoming budgetFamily Card is a charter of country’s marginalised people's economic liberty: State Minister for Social Welfare

State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin, MP, said that the Family Card is not just an assistance program; it is a modern charter of economic liberation for the marginalized communities of Bangladesh.

He said, by establishing a transparent and humane relationship between the state and the citizens, this program will transform Bangladesh into a developed and non-discriminatory welfare state by 2030, where 'no one will be left behind.' Together, we want to build the country.

State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin, MP, made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a shadow parliament debate competition on the priority of social protection programs in the budget organized by Debate for Democracy at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (FDC) in Dhaka this morning.

State Minister Farzana Sharmin said, there were many irregularities and nepotism in the social security program during the previous Awami League regime. There will be no political interference and corruption in the provision of family cards during the current government's tenure. The real beneficiaries are being selected through house-to-house scoring using the IBAS system. These benefits are being provided to those who need them, rising above party affiliation.

The State Minister further said that as per the election promise of the BNP government, the family card program has been included as a flagship program. There is no fear of increasing the debt burden due to the universal social security program. The previous government systematically destroyed various institutions and made the country dependent. At that time, corruption and corrupt people were socially favored by increasing the project duration and cost in mega projects. The current government's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is taking up such projects that improve the living standards of the marginalized population instead of all unnecessary mega projects.

In his speech at the event, Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron said, "The universal social security program is being given importance in this year's budget to improve the living standards of the common people. This is a bold initiative of the current government. For the first time in the history of the country, a universal social security program has been adopted. There are concerns and apprehensions about the implementation of such a program regarding the selection of beneficiaries and its financing. However, no information about any political influence or corruption in the selection of beneficiaries has been published in the mainstream media or social media so far."

He further said that if the government has the will, it is possible to implement a universal social security program. If the government can establish good governance in revenue management through expenditure reduction policies, increase domestic revenue, increase investment, create employment, and stop corruption by not taking up overvalued projects, then implementing the social security program will not be a big challenge.

He said, however, it will not be possible to improve the standard of living of the common people by ensuring only social security programs. To protect and improve the standard of living of the marginalized population, they must be ensured education, medical care, employment, communication, housing, infrastructure, and fair prices for agricultural products. They must be developed by making them self-reliant. Employment must be created by providing loans on easy terms. Ways of earning must be created. The budget must be allocated considering where and what is needed.

The debaters of Government Titumir College won the Shadow Parliament Debate Competition, defeating the debaters of Uttara University. The judges of the competition were Professor Abu Mohammad Rais, journalists Touhidul Islam, journalists Ashraful Islam and journalists Atiqur Rahman.

At the end of the competition, State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin presented trophies, crests, and certificates to the teams participating in the debate competition.