STAR REPORT

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday told the parliament that the BNP government considers family, not the individual, as the fundamental unit of development.

He reiterated that four crore low-income and marginalised families across the country will be brought under the Family Card programme gradually.

The Leader of the House said this while replying to a question from Noakhali-1 MP AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, reports BSS.

Tarique, also ruling BNP chairman, said the current government has taken the Family Card programme based on the vision of ensuring social security for citizens through a family-centric development approach.

In the initial phase, he said Family Cards were distributed to 37,814 families across 10 districts and three city corporations on March 10, 2026.

Meanwhile, the prime minister also announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s education sector, reiterating the government’s pledge to gradually raise education spending to 5 percent of GDP, as outlined in the election manifesto.

Responding to a question from BNP lawmaker Selim Reza during the question-and-answer session at the parliament, the premier said 43 priority areas in the education sector have been identified, with short, medium, and long-term plans underway.

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon yesterday told parliament that 2,839 villages across the country do not have any primary schools.

The minister presented the data responding to a question from BNP lawmaker Zainal Abdin.

According to the minister, the number of villages without primary schools stands at 717 in Dhaka Division, 818 in Chattogram Division, 355 in Rajshahi Division, 37 in Rangpur Division, 341 in Khulna Division, 45 in Barishal Division, 260 in Sylhet Division and 266 in Mymensingh Division.

Based on the data, a total of 2,76,516

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