Published: 12:11 AM, 16 April 2026
Govt launches 'Farmer Card'
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman hands over farmer cards and saplings to farmers in Tangail on 14 April 2026. -AA
With an aim to boost the agriculture sector by supporting millions of farmers, Bangladesh has introduced 'Farmer Card' scheme.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman formally launched the pre-pilot programme in 11 upazilas of 10 districts simultaneously by handing over farmer cards and saplings to 15 male and female farmers at around at Shaheed Maruf Stadium in Tangail on Tuesday.
He launched the programme nationwide by pressing a button on a laptop while Taka 2,500 was transferred directly to the bank accounts of 22,065 farmers each across 11 upazilas. In Tangail 1,453 farmers received the money.
Tarique Rahman said, "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'."
"You are aware that through the Krishak Card (Farmer Card), we will try to provide 10 types of services directly to the farmers, InShaAllah. Through these 10 benefits, the farmer will be able to change their conditions in many ways," he said.
Referring to initiatives taken during the tenures of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia to support agriculture and farmers, he said, "Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman introduced canal excavation programmes, through which we saw that Bangladesh became roughly self-sufficient in agricultural crops within a year".
"We witnessed that in 1974, countless people died of starvation in the country. In that Bangladesh, we saw that during Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman tenure, agricultural production doubled due to the digging of canals and the providing irrigation facilities to farmers. At that time, Bangladesh was able to export food abroad, albeit in small quantities," the Prime Minister added.
He said that whenever the BNP formed the government, it worked to support farmers.
Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid chaired the inaugural function while Prime Minister's Adviser Md Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku spoke as special guests.
Agricultural Secretary Dr Rafiqul I Mohamed delivered the welcome address while Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative in Bangladesh Jiaoqun Shi also spoke at the function.
>>Masud Reza, AA
