A new Transparency International Bangladesh report on "Governance Challenges in TCB's Family Card Programme" found irregularities and corruption in the scheme.
Some 39.5 percent respondents of 1,047 beneficiaries of the government's 'Tk 2,500 cash assistance' scheme have been excluded from the 'Family Card' programme, according to TIB.
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Of those excluded from the 'family card' programme, 80.4 percent said they were excluded due to irregularities and corruption, the report says.
Four percent of those included in the programme faced irregularities and corruption in enrolment and distribution of cards as they were forced to pay Tk 50-200 as bribes or irregular payments to get the card, the report added.
TIB disclosed the findings of the report "Governance Challenges in TCB's Family Card Programme" during a virtual press conference today.
TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said the initiative was "timely, important, and praiseworthy" which targeted about 25-30 percent of total population, those who are thought to be underprivileged, poverty-ridden and low-income groups.
"However, in reality, the targeted population in many cases did not get the benefit of the important programme due to lack of capacity, preparedness and direction of related institutions," he added.
There was lack in transparency, accountability, management, and directive as well as presence of political influence, irregularities and corruption, Iftekharuzzaman said.
Data for the study was collected between April-June this year and a survey took place from April 18-26 in 35 districts across the country.
According to the report, it was initially decided that only beneficiaries of the 'Tk 2,500 cash assistance' programme (3.85 million) would be included in the family card programme, but later 6.15 million more families were included.
Each household received a subsidy of around Tk 550 twice for four products that is usually overpriced during Ramadan (a product of Tk 1,570 is sold at Tk 1,020).
Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) does not have the capacity to sell products to such a large number of people in all districts or upazilas, although measures have been taken to sell products in rural areas with the help of local administration and other programmes.
According to respondents who did not get the family card, the main reasons for exclusion were lack of transparency or publicity of the enlisting process, enrolment of wealthy people for political reasons, issuing multiple cards to the same family, changing the photo of the enlisted person with another person, and for not giving give bribes, the report adds.
Most of those who got the card did not want to comment on irregularities and corruption for fear of harassment and deprivation from future government facilities.
The highest allegations of irregularities and corruption were made against local public representatives as they were involved in enrolment and distribution of cards, the report says.