Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain and State Minister Farzana Sharmin today held a meeting with a four-member delegation of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) at the ministry office in the capital.

The delegation was led by UNOPS Bangladesh Country Manager Sudhir Muralidharan. Social Welfare Ministry Secretary Dr Mohammad Abu Yusuf was present at the meeting, an official release said here today.

During the meeting, Minister Zahid Hossain said that in line with one of the government's key election pledges, a universal "Family Card" system will be introduced through the Ministry of Social Welfare, under which the female head of every family will receive the card.

He briefed the delegation on the implementation progress of the programme, adding that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman formally inaugurated the initiative in Dhaka on March 10.

So far, "Family Cards" have been issued to 37,567 female heads of households, each receiving a monthly financial assistance of Taka 2,500.

The minister said the government plans to issue "Family Cards" to female 
heads of 40 million families within the next four years, describing the card as a dignified civic recognition for women as heads of households.

He also highlighted the importance of caregiver training programmes aimed at creating employment opportunities for underprivileged boys and girls.

On behalf of UNOPS, Country Manager Sudhir Muralidharan congratulated the minister and the state minister, describing the Family Card initiative as a positive step toward strengthening social protection programmes.

He assured UNOPS' cooperation in implementing the Family Card programme and expressed hope of working jointly with the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to promote social security and good governance in the country.