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Published : 14 Apr 2026, 12:07 PM
People in Tangail are waiting for a visit from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Noboborsho, the first day of the Bengali New Year.
Farmers from all over the district and surrounding areas have gathered at the Tangail Shaheed Maruf Stadium since Tuesday morning. The prime minister is scheduled to distribute Farmer Cards among them at 10:30am.
A stage has been set up at the stadium for the event marking the inauguration of the Farmer Card Distribution Programme organised by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The arrangements are already complete. Farmers, leaders and activists are entering the stadium through various gates from 8am.
The prime minister left his Gulshan residence by road around 9am. He will come directly to the stadium for the event, said his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman.
Fisheries and Livestock State Minister Sultan Salauddin Tuku said, “On this day of Pahela Baishakh, the honourable prime minister is coming to Tangail. We are all waiting for him. This day is a historic day for the people of Tangail.”
“The election manifesto of the government led by the people’s leader Tarique Rahman was that if the BNP came to power, it would introduce Farmer Cards to change the fate of farmers. As part of that promise, the government is going to start this programme today in the pre-piloting stage of introducing the Farmer Cards.”
Farmer Cards will be issued simultaneously in 11 Upazilas across the country, including Tangail Sadar Upazila, today. The prime minister will formally inaugurate this pilot project from Tangail.
In the pre-pilot phase, distribution will take place across selected agricultural blocks in several districts, including Panchagarh, Bogura, Jhenaidah, Pirojpur, Cox’s Bazar, Cumilla, Tangail, Rajbari, Moulvibazar and Jamalpur.
The government will issue 'Farmer Cards' to all farmers across the country in three phases. These cards are being issued in five categories. Through this, farmers holding the cards will get 10 types of benefits including agricultural inputs at fair prices, irrigation facilities, and agricultural loans on easy terms.
The distribution of the Farmer Cards will be implemented in three phases. These are pre-piloting (experimental), piloting, and nationwide.
The pre-piloting phase includes crop farmers, fish farmers or fishermen, livestock farmers and dairy farmers. Salt producers have also been included where applicable. Farmers have also been categorised as landless, marginal, small, medium and large.
The cost of pre-piloting will be approximately Tk 83.4 million. After the completion of the pre-piloting, pilot activities will be started in 15 Upazilas by August.
Baishakhi Festivities Fill the Air in Tangail
Farmers have come to the stadium adorned in colourful attire. Excitement and anticipation fill the air for Tarique’s visit.
Farmer Mohammad Ali said, “This is a happy day for us, the month of Baishakh is a very happy day for farmers. On this day, the government will give Farmers Cards… It is hard to believe. I have heard that there will be a (notification) sound of receiving money on my mobile.”
A female farmer Tahmira said, “We find it hard to make ends meet. It’s really tough to cultivate crops in the field, to find seeds and get irrigation water.”
"Tarique Rahman will give us Farmer Cards. If we get it, it will be beneficial for us. I was waiting for the first day of Baishakh. Today I feel happy."
The farmers all have “mathai” (hats) on their heads and gamchas (local towels) tied around their necks. Many have brought their small children. Seats have been arranged for them in the guest row for the farmers.
The Benefits Farmers Will Get
The Farmer Card is a banking debit card. Bank accounts have been opened against this card in the name of the concerned farmers at the local branches of Sonali Bank. In this pilot project, Farmer Cards are being given to crop farmers, fish farmers, livestock farmers and salt producers. The information of 22,065 farmers has been collected.
Of these, 2,246 are landless farmers, 9,458 are marginal farmers, 8,967 are small scale farmers, 1,303 are medium scale farmers and 91 are large scale farmers. Landless, marginal and small-scale farmers will also be given Tk 2,500 in cash annually through the cards, accounting of 20,671 out of 22,065 people.
A total of 1,500 farmers will be given the cards at the distribution ceremony at Tangail Stadium. However, the organisers of the event said that the prime minister will hand over the cards to 15 people.
The agriculture minister said that farmers will get 10 types of benefits. These are, agricultural inputs at fair prices, irrigation facilities at fair prices, agricultural loans on easy terms, obtaining agricultural machinery at low prices, government subsidies and incentives, weather forecast and market information on mobile phones, agricultural training, advice on controlling crop diseases and pests, agricultural insurance facilities for selling agricultural products at fair prices.
Through the Farmer Cards, farmers can purchase various agricultural equipment including fertiliser, seeds, fish or animal feed using the Point of Sale (POS) machine provided by the respective dealer.
