Dhaka //

The 32nd meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Social Security Programs was held at the Ministry of Finance. The monthly allowance rate of titled freedom fighters and martyred freedom fighter families under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs was increased by Tk 5,000.

In addition, several decisions were taken, including the decision to increase widow’s allowance, old age allowance, allowance for widows and husband-raped women, allowance for the disabled, and monthly allowance under the Mother and Child Support Program.

The meeting, held at 2 pm on Sunday (January 25), was presided over by Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed.

In this, the number of beneficiaries and allowance rates of a total of 15 social security programs under the purview of the Social Security Program Committee in the coming fiscal year 2026-27 have been determined.

According to the decision of the meeting, the monthly allowance rate of titled freedom fighters and families of martyred freedom fighters under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has been increased by Tk 5,000 in this meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Social Security Programs. It has been recommended to include the monthly honorarium of the families of martyrs and injured in the July Uprising under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and the VGF program under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock under the purview of the Advisory Council Committee on Social Security Programs. The meeting recommended to include 2,73,514 new fishermen in the 2026-27 fiscal year, bringing a total of 1.5 million fishermen under the VGF program.

The number of beneficiaries of the old age allowance program under the Ministry of Social Welfare has been increased by one lakh to 6.2 million. Out of which 59 lakh 95 thousand elderly people will get monthly allowance of 700 taka instead of 650 taka and 2 lakh 5 thousand elderly people above 90 years will get monthly allowance of 1000 taka.

Out of 29 lakh widows and widowers under the purview of the Ministry of Social Welfare, 28 lakh 75 thousand will get monthly allowance of 700 taka instead of 650 taka and 25 thousand widows and widowers above 90 years will get monthly allowance of 1000 taka.

Out of 36 lakh disabled people under the purview of the Ministry of Disability Allowance and Education Stipend Program, 35 lakh 81 thousand 900 people will get monthly disability allowance of 900 taka and 18 thousand 1000 taka. In the current fiscal year, 34 lakh 50 thousand disabled people are getting allowance. On the other hand, the monthly rate of scholarship for disabled students has been increased by 50 taka to 950 taka, 1000 taka, 1,100 taka and 1,350 taka at primary, secondary, higher secondary and higher levels respectively.

The number of beneficiaries under the livelihood improvement program of the backward community under the Ministry of Social Welfare has been increased by 7 thousand people to a total of 2 lakh 28 thousand 389 people. The monthly allowance rate has been increased to 700 taka from 650 taka.

On the other hand, the number of students receiving scholarships/merit scholarships for backward students has been increased by 3 thousand 198 people to a total of 45 thousand 338 people. The monthly rate of scholarships/merit scholarships for backward students has been set at 700 taka, 800 taka, 1000 taka and 1200 taka at primary, secondary, higher secondary and higher levels respectively. In addition, it has been decided that a total of 5 thousand 490 people will be provided skill development training under the livelihood improvement program of the backward community.

The number of beneficiaries of the financial assistance program for patients suffering from cancer, kidney, liver cirrhosis, stroke, congenital heart disease and thalassemia under the Ministry of Social Welfare has been increased by 5,000 to 65,000. The amount of one-time medical assistance has been doubled from Tk 50,000 to Tk 1 lakh.

The number of beneficiaries of the Mother and Child Assistance Program under the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has been increased by 1,24,000 to 1,895,200. Under this program, a mother receives an allowance of Tk 850 per month.

The number of beneficiary families under the Food Ministry’s Food-Friendly Program has been increased by 50,000 to 60,000. Under this program, each family receives 30 kg of food assistance per month at Tk 15 per kg for a total of 6 months.

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