Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Tuesday said there is no scope for political consideration in the distribution of Farmers’ Cards, emphasising that small and marginal farmers will be the primary beneficiaries of the government initiative.

He made the remarks while talking to journalists after distributing Farmers’ Cards at Abaipur village in Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah.

The minister said the government has been implementing pledges made by the BNP in its electoral manifesto, adding that several pro-farmer measures have already been taken. “The government has waived agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000 for farmers. Now, we have started distributing Farmers’ Cards. A nationwide canal excavation programme has also been launched to boost agricultural production,” he said.

Asked about allegations made by opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami that opposition voices are being suppressed in Parliament, Asaduzzaman dismissed those, saying they are being given more time than allocated to speak in the House.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman virtually joined the inauguration ceremony of the Farmers’ Card distribution programme held at Kripalpur Govt Primary School under Abaipur union.

Among others, Jhenaidah Deputy Commissioner Noman Hossain, Superintendent of Police Mahfuz Afzal, Zila Parishad Administrator MA Majid, district BNP General Secretary Zahiduzzaman Mona, and Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Md Kamruzzaman were present at the event.

A total of 1,679 farmers received the cards under the pilot phase of the programme in Kripalpur block of Abaipur union.