Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday told Parliament that the government's planned Family Card and Farmers' Card programmes will not increase inflation or create undue pressure on the national budget.
Instead, he said, the initiatives will boost employment, strengthen the rural economy and support local industries.
Replying to a supplementary question from National Citizen Party MP Abul Hasnat (Hasnat Abdullah, Cumilla-4) during the parliamentary session, Tarique said the government will gradually bring four crore families under the Family Card programme and 2.75 crore farmers under the Farmers' Card scheme.
"No government in the world can implement such a massive programme all at once," he said.
The Prime Minister said the government will first identify vulnerable families and bring them under the scheme in phases.
"We will collect data, prepare the budget gradually and expand the coverage step by step. So, according to our calculations, there is no reason for significant pressure on the budget," he said.
Tarique also said the programme would not be financed by printing money. "We will not print money to fund this initiative.”
He said a review of existing social safety net programmes found that some people are receiving multiple benefits.
"We will rationalise overlapping benefits where necessary though not all programmes will be cut. We will proceed gradually in this way,” he said.
He said beneficiaries would spend the money on essential goods such as clothing, books and daily necessities, most of which are produced locally.
"The people who receive this support do not buy luxury brands. They purchase essential goods made in local factories," Tarique said.
He also said spending under the Family Card programme would circulate within rural communities, benefiting local businesses and creating jobs.
"This is an investment by the state. It will gradually help build local industries and generate employment," he said.
"Our assessment is that inflation will not rise; rather, it will come down," the prime minister added.