Dhaka — The government has started handing out “farmer cards” to peasants, aiming to make the country’s rural economy more vibrant by helping farmers become self-reliant and economically solvent.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who introduced the card, formally distributed the privilege card among farmers at an event in the central Bangladeshi district of Tangail on Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bengali calendar.
“The goal of the current elected government is to make farmers self-reliant and financially solvent. That is why we have given this ‘Farmer Card’,” he said while inaugurating the card distribution programme at the Shaheed Maruf Stadium in the Sadar Upazila of Tangail.
He launched the pre-pilot programme of farmer cards in 11 sub-districts across 10 districts simultaneously by handing over the ‘Farmer Card’ to 15 marginal farmers in Tangail.
He inaugurated the scheme nationwide by pressing a button on a laptop at noon. Some 2,500 taka was transferred directly to the bank accounts of 22,065 farmers across 11 upazilas. In Tangail, 1,453 farmers received the money.
At the farmer card distribution event, the Prime Minister handed over the card and paddy saplings to 15 farmers. Addressing them, he said, “When these saplings grow and bear fruit, you should send some for me.”
Speaking on the occasion, he said, “You are aware that through the Krishak Card (Farmer Card), we will try to provide 10 types of services directly to the farmers. Through these benefits, the farmer will be able to change their condition in many ways.”
Referring to his party’s election manifesto, Tarique Rahman, also the BNP chairman, said, “Many of us present here may not be directly involved in farming, but someone in our family is connected to agriculture.”
Out of all the people in Bangladesh, there are 4 crore families, and almost every family has some link to farming, meaning agriculture is the main occupation of this country, he added.
If farmers are well-off, if the farmers of this country survive, then the whole of Bangladesh will do well, and the people of entire Bangladesh will live well, he said.
The premier also announced that the government will provide the ‘Farmer Card’ to 2.75 crore farmers gradually over the next five years.
