January 26, 2026
DHAKA – The government has expanded the social safety net programme, raising beneficiary numbers and allowance amounts across multiple schemes from the next fiscal year.
The number of beneficiaries under the Ministry of Social Welfare’s Old Age Allowance Programme has been increased by 1 lakh to 62 lakh.
Of them, 59.95 lakh elderly persons will receive a monthly allowance of Tk 700 instead of the previous Tk 650, while 2.5 lakh people aged over 90 will receive a monthly allowance of Tk 1,000.
Under the Ministry of Social Welfare, among 29 lakh widows and women abandoned by their husbands, 28.75 lakh will receive a monthly allowance of Tk 700 instead of Tk 650, while 25,000 widows and abandoned women aged over 90 will receive Tk 1,000 per month.
Under the Disability Allowance and Education Stipend programme, among 36 lakh persons with disabilities, 35,81,900 will receive a monthly allowance of Tk 900, while 18,100 will receive Tk 1,000 per month.
In addition, the monthly stipend/merit stipend for students with disabilities has been increased by Tk 50 to Tk 950, Tk 1,000, Tk 1,100, and Tk 1,350 at the primary, secondary, higher secondary, and higher education levels respectively.
Under the Programme for Improving the Living Standards of Backward Communities, the number of beneficiaries has been increased by 7,000 to a total of 2,28,389. At the same time, the monthly allowance has been increased from Tk 650 to Tk 700.
Additionally, the number of backward community students receiving stipends/merit stipends has been increased by 3,198 to a total of 45,338. The monthly stipend/merit stipend rates for backward students have been set at Tk 700, Tk 800, Tk 1,000, and Tk 1,200 at the primary, secondary, higher secondary, and higher education levels respectively.
Moreover, a total of 5,490 persons from backward communities will be provided with skills development training under this programme.
Under the Financial Assistance Programme for patients suffering from cancer, kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, paralysis due to stroke, congenital heart disease, and thalassemia, the number of beneficiaries has been increased by 5,000 to a total of 65,000. In addition, the one-time medical assistance amount has been doubled from Tk 50,000 to Tk 1,00,000.
Under the Mother and Child Assistance Programme of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, the number of beneficiaries has been increased by 1,24,000 to a total of 18,95,200. Under this programme, each mother receives a monthly allowance of Tk 850.
Under the Ministry of Food’s Food-Friendly Programme, the number of beneficiary families has been increased by 5 lakh to a total of 60 lakh families. Under this programme, each family receives food assistance for six months, receiving 30 kg of rice per month at a subsidised rate of Tk 15 per kg.
At the 32nd meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Social Safety Net Programme today, the monthly allowance for titled freedom fighters and families of martyred freedom fighters under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs was increased by Tk 5,000.
The meeting also recommended bringing the monthly honorarium for families of those martyred and injured in the July mass uprising under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, and the VGF programme under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.
The meeting further recommended that in the fiscal year 2026-27, an additional 2,73,514 fishermen be newly included, bringing the total number of fishermen under the VGF programme to 15 lakh.