Bangladesh is set to modernise its social protection system through the Dynamic Social Registry (DSR), a nationwide digital platform designed to make welfare benefits more transparent, targeted and accessible while reducing duplication and administrative inefficiencies.
The initiative, being implemented by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Social Welfare, aims to replace fragmented welfare programmes with a citizen-centric digital system that allows eligible people to apply for social protection benefits from anywhere in the country.
According to the budget document, the DSR will use verified household data and data-driven poverty assessments to identify eligible beneficiaries, marking a shift from programme-based welfare administration to an integrated digital ecosystem.
Replacing a fragmented system
The government acknowledges that Bangladesh's current social protection framework, comprising more than 90 separate programmes, has faced challenges such as overlapping benefits, weak coordination and the exclusion of many deserving households.
The DSR seeks to address these issues by creating a unified database capable of scientifically assessing poverty and determining eligibility across multiple social protection programmes.
Officials say the system will improve targeting, reduce duplication and ensure public resources reach those most in need.
Building on existing digital systems
The reform builds on the Single Registry System introduced by the Finance Division, under which social protection payments are transferred directly to beneficiaries through mobile financial services or bank accounts using the Government-to-Person (G2P) payment system.
The registry currently contains information on around 40 million beneficiaries and can verify another 20 million citizens.
According to the budget document, the digital platform has already improved transparency in beneficiary selection, strengthened account verification and reduced duplication in fund disbursement.
Life-cycle approach to social protection
The government plans to adopt a life-cycle approach, bringing every citizen—from birth to old age—under a comprehensive social protection framework.
Officials say the strategy is intended not only to provide financial assistance but also to promote economic empowerment, self-reliance and long-term resilience for vulnerable groups.
The budget document also reiterates the government's commitment to ensuring food, clothing, shelter and employment while acknowledging that poverty and inequality remain major development challenges.
Family Card Programme
A key component of the reform is the Family Card Programme, which shifts the focus from individual beneficiaries to households.
The programme will identify poor families and provide integrated support covering food security, healthcare, education and livelihood opportunities.
Family Cards will be issued in the name of the mother or female head of the household to strengthen women's financial and social empowerment.
Each eligible household will receive Tk 2,500 per month through the G2P payment system, significantly higher than many existing social safety net allowances.
The government also plans to integrate household family-tree information into the database and eventually transform the Family Card into a Universal Social ID Card by 2030.
During the pilot phase, 60,044 female-headed households have received benefits. In the next fiscal year, the government plans to issue Family Cards to 4.1 million women, supported by a proposed allocation of Tk 14,500 crore.
Expanded social protection
The budget also proposes expanding several existing programmes.
The Old Age Allowance Programme will add 100,000 beneficiaries, raising total coverage to 6.2 million, while the monthly allowance will increase from Tk 650 to Tk 700.
The Widow and Destitute Women Allowance Programme will also expand by 100,000 beneficiaries to 3 million, with the monthly allowance rising to Tk 700.
Under the Disability Allowance Programme, coverage will increase from 3.45 million to 3.8 million beneficiaries, while the monthly payment will rise from Tk 900 to Tk 1,000.
Educational stipends for students with disabilities will also be expanded, alongside continued support for mothers and newborns through the Mother and Child Assistance Programme.
The government further plans to double one-time financial assistance for patients suffering from cancer and five other chronic diseases from Tk 50,000 to Tk 100,000.
Challenges ahead
Officials say the success of the DSR will depend on maintaining accurate and regularly updated household data, expanding digital access in remote areas, protecting personal information and ensuring effective coordination among government agencies.
The government also faces the challenge of ensuring that no eligible household is excluded during the transition from existing welfare schemes to the unified digital system.
