DHAKA, July 21, (v7n) – World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director in Bangladesh Coco H. Ushiyama today met Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Prof. Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain at his office at the Secretariat, discussing social safety programmes, the Family Card initiative, food security, mid-day meals for primary students, education, health, nutrition, climate change impacts, and technical cooperation.
Women and Children Affairs Secretary Yasmeen Parveen was present during the meeting.
The minister thanked WFP for its continued support and said the government has started implementing the Family Card initiative—one of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's election pledges—from the first month after forming the government. He said 41 lakh families will receive Family Cards in the current fiscal year, and the government is providing training and seed money to help poor people engage in income-generating activities and become entrepreneurs.
Ushiyama praised the Family Card initiative, particularly the decision to issue cards in the names of women, saying the approach is clear, timely, and realistic. She assured WFP's support for technical and experience-sharing assistance for the programme, and also informed the minister about WFP's welfare activities worldwide, highlighting its emergency relief support during the recent flood situation in Chattogram.
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