Bangladesh delays IRS pilot programme, missing Eid-ul-Fitr deadline for families

The newly elected BNP government has announced plans to launch an IRS pilot programme in Bogura and Dinajpur districts. Aimed at providing monthly financial support to low-income families, the scheme was intended to begin before Eid-ul-Fitr. However, delays mean beneficiaries will not receive payments in time for the festival.

The initiative fulfils a key election promise to extend assistance to one crore families across the country.

The pilot programme will cover eight upazilas in Bogura and Dinajpur, with around 2,500 selected beneficiaries. Each recipient, primarily women, will receive between Tk 2,000 and Tk 2,500 per month, delivered through mobile financial services. The government had hoped to roll out the scheme before Eid-ul-Fitr, but as of February 23, 2026, the programme remains unpublished.

The cabinet committee has directed the social welfare ministry to finalise selection criteria within days. Officials may prioritise existing recipients of social safety net programmes. Additionally, the ministry must outline how the IRS Card will operate, including funding mechanisms.

To support 50 lakh beneficiaries nationwide, the government estimates a monthly requirement of Tk 1,250 crore. Some funds may be reallocated from other allowances to meet this target. The pilot's success will determine whether the programme expands to fulfil the BNP's pledge of covering one crore families.

The pilot's delay means no payments will reach beneficiaries before Eid-ul-Fitr. Once launched, the scheme will test the government's ability to distribute funds efficiently. If successful, the programme could reshape social welfare support for millions of households in the coming years.