Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday said the government has launched the Farmers’ Card scheme with the goal of making farmers self-reliant and prosperous.

“The goal of the current elected government is to make farmers self-reliant and economically secure. That is why we have given this Farmers’ Card,” he said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks after inaugurating the Farmers’ Card pre-pilot programme at the Shaheed Maruf Stadium in Tangail on Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla New Year.

He said the government has taken initiative to bring meaningful changes to farmers’ lives by ensuring direct access to essential services.

“You are aware that through this Farmers’ Card, we will try, Inshallah, to deliver 10 types of services directly to farmers. These services will help improve their overall condition in many ways,” Tarique Rahman said.

Referring to his party’s election manifesto, the BNP chairman said agriculture remains central to Bangladesh’s economy and society.

“Many of us here may not be directly involved in farming, but someone in our family is connected to agriculture. In Bangladesh, almost every family has some link to farming. Agriculture is the main occupation of this country,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the well-being of farmers is directly linked to the well-being of the nation.

“I personally believe, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party also believes, that if farmers are well-off, if they can survive and live well, then the whole of Bangladesh will do well and the people of the country will also live better,” he added.

Tarique Rahman also announced that around 2.75 crore farmers will gradually receive the Farmers’ Cards over the next five years.

Earlier, the Prime Minister pressed a button on a laptop and launched the pre-pilot programme of the Farmers’ Card nationwide around 12:22pm, saying Bismillah (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.)

As soon as the programme was launched, Tk 2,500 was transferred directly to the bank accounts of 22,067 farmers each across 11 upazilas through mobile banking. In Tangail alone, 1,453 farmers received the money.

On the stage, he handed over Farmers’ Cards and tree saplings to 15 farmers. He jokingly told them that when the trees grow and bear fruit, they should send some for him.

Speaking about agriculture and past initiatives, the Prime Minister referred to programmes undertaken during earlier tenures of the BNP government and highlighted the importance of irrigation and rural development in boosting farm production.

He said the country’s economy is closely linked with agriculture, noting that the government remains committed to supporting farmers and rural communities.

Tarique Rahman said the BNP government, whenever it got the opportunity to run the country, always tried to stand beside the farmers. “You have shown trust in BNP in the last election. Insha’Allah, this government will fully respect that trust.”

He said it is the time to build the country with the cooperation from people of all walks of life.

“Along with supporting our farmers, we must also stand beside our women farmers and general women of our country. Women make up half of our population. If we cannot make them self-reliant, we will not be able to move the country forward,” the Prime Minister said.

He said the government plans to expand support for women, especially female-headed families, through a “Family Card” programme, which is already being piloted. “Within the next five years, we will try to extend the benefits of this card to all female-headed families in Bangladesh.”

Tarique Rahman said the government will try to stand by everyone, including farmers, mothers and sisters, imams and khatibs, other religious leaders, students, and people from all professions and backgrounds.

“Our goal is the development of the country and the improvement of people’s lives. That is why we say ‘we will work, we will build the country – Bangladesh first,’” he said.

The Prime Minister said every citizen of the country, whether involved in politics or not, whether farmer, student or businessman, shares the same desire – to see their country in a better and more beautiful condition.

“This goal can only be achieved with the cooperation of the people. So, the government wants to move forward together with the people, stay beside them, and build the nation collectively. By inaugurating the Farmers’ Card, I am once again inviting people from all walks of life in Bangladesh to take part in building the nation,” he said.

Tarique Rahman said the government will work to ensure fair prices for agricultural products and strengthen agro-based industries, including food processing and cold storage facilities, to reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmers’ income.

He mentioned that perishable crops like pineapples often suffer price drops during peak seasons due to lack of preservation facilities, and stressed the need for cold storage and processing systems.

At the beginning of his speech, the Prime Minister extended New Year greetings and said Pahela Baishakh, though now a social festival, is rooted in the agricultural traditions of Bangladesh, as it originated from farmers’ accounting practices.

He said that is why the Farmers’ Card programme was launched on this occasion.

The Prime Minister entered the stadium around 11:20am. Upon arrival, he went straight to the stage and greeted farmers by waving at them.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture. Several thousand farmers, along with leaders and supporters, gathered at the stadium, creating a festive atmosphere on the Bangla New Year. People filled both the ground and gallery areas.

Agriculture Minister Aminur Rashid presided over the programme. Among others present were Prime Minister’s Political Adviser and BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock and local MP Sultan Salauddin Tuku, FAO Representative in Bangladesh Jiaoqun Shi, and Agriculture Secretary Rafiqul Islam.

The Farmers’ Card initiative aims to directly support and empower farmers, who are considered the backbone of the country’s economy. It is designed to bring modern technology to agriculture and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

Under the programme, farmers will receive a debit card linked to a bank account opened in their names at Sonali Bank PLC.

The card will allow them to access services such as fair-priced agricultural inputs, irrigation support, easy loans, subsidies, training, weather updates, crop advice and insurance.

In the initial phase, about 22,067 landless, marginal, small, medium and large farmers, as well as those involved in fisheries, livestock and salt production will receive Tk 2,500 annually through the card.

Since early morning, farmers from Tangail Sadar and nearby areas streamed into the stadium. Many, dressed in colourful attire, expressed excitement at seeing the Prime Minister and becoming part of the government’s new initiative.