Dhaka asks the World Bank to back its family and farmer card schemes

Prime minister Tarique Rahman has sought World Bank support for social protection programmes such as the family card and the farmer card.

The matters came up in a meeting of about thirty minutes with World Bank Group president Ajay Banga in New York on Tuesday, on the margins of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Support for young entrepreneurs was also discussed.

The two sides discussed whether the programme could be scaled up with the World Bank on a structure of 50 per cent grant and 50 per cent concessional loan.

The farmer card is an identity document tied to subsidies, seed and fertiliser allocations and the right to sell paddy at the government procurement price.

The government recently said fisheries and livestock farmers will also be brought under the card, which would raise the number of holders considerably.

Source: Dhaka Post