Bangladesh prime minister and leader of the House, Tarique Rahman, on Wednesday told the Jatiya Sangsad that programmes like the Family Card and Krishak Card would not put pressure on the national budget.

Replying to a supplementary question from Cumilla-4 lawmaker Abul Hasnat during the 24th sitting of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad’s first session, the prime minister said that the initiatives were expected to help curb inflation in the long run.

Abul Hasnat sought clarification on whether the programmes, reportedly involving annual expenditures exceeding Tk 1,40,000 crore, would support economic growth, whether funds were being diverted from existing social safety net schemes and if the measures could fuel inflation.

In response, Tarique Rahman said the government planned to bring four crore families under the card schemes in phases, which would prevent any significant strain on the budget.

He said the current Tk 2,500 cash support per beneficiary already surpassed benefits provided under all existing social safety net programmes.

Citing research findings, he added that instances of individuals receiving multiple benefits under different schemes had been identified.

To address such overlaps, the government was planning to rationalise allocations within existing social safety net programmes, he said.

The prime minister described the card initiatives as an investment aimed at stimulating the local economy and strengthening domestic industries.

‘These investments will help reduce inflation in the future,’ he added.