Family Card aid gives Rajshahi widow Ripa Khatun vital support for household, education and medical expenses. Photo : BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, Aug 15, 2026 (BSS)- The government's Family Card assistance has brought some relief to Ripa Khatun, a widow with two children in Paba upazila of Rajshahi, helping her meet household expenses, children's education costs and medical needs.

Ripa, from Berpara village of Haripur Union, lost her husband Sayeed Ali while he was fishing in the Padma River last year. Since then, she has been working at a sweet shop for Tk 150 a day to support her family.

In such a difficult situation, the Family Card assistance of Tk 2,500 a month has eased some of her financial burden.

On Friday morning, this reporter spoke to Ripa Khatun at her home in Berpara village.

"I am a widow. My husband died while fishing in the devastating Padma. After my husband died, I worked in a sweet shop and got 150 Taka per day. 

In our poverty-stricken family, this small income from the Family Card is helping a lot. 

Now it is easier to bear my children's education expenses and run the household. For this, I thank the Prime Minister a lot," she said.

About 15 years ago, Ripa, from Premtali area of Godagari upazila, married fisherman Sayeed Ali of Haripur Union. They had two children and dreamed of a life together.

But last year, Sayeed drowned while fishing from a dinghy boat in front of the Hi-Tech Park, leaving Ripa to shoulder the responsibility of raising their children.

She now lives with her son and daughter in a tin-shed house on government land. During rain, water pours through the roof and walls, sometimes soaking the floor and the children's books and notebooks. Despite the hardship, she is determined to continue their education.

Her son Yamin studies in the seventh grade at Bhatapara Hafezia Madrasa, while her daughter Sadika is a fifth-grade student at Berpara Government Primary School. 

The Family Card assistance has helped ease the pressure of meeting their educational expenses.

Ripa is not alone in benefiting from the scheme. For many low-income families in Berpara village, the monthly assistance has become an additional source of support.

Nila Begum, wife of rickshaw puller Azim Hossain, said her husband's single income was not enough to run the household and the Family Card money was helping them meet their daily needs.

Mansura Khatun, wife of Belal Hossain of the same village, said her husband drives a rickshaw and that after paying the daily deposit for the vehicle, little remains to support the family. The Family Card assistance has eased their hardship, she said.

Three children of Mabia Khatun of Berpara are also studying amid financial difficulties. Her eldest son Ramim Iqbal is in the ninth grade at Kasba School and Tamim Iqbal is in the third grade at Berpara Government Primary School.

Her four-year-old son Fahim Iqbal suffers from a blood disorder and requires a blood transfusion every three months. The Family Card assistance is also helping the family meet his medical expenses.

Paba Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ibnul Abedin said the Family Cards were distributed as part of the government's election manifesto.

A total of 655 families from three villages, Berpara, Dabirmollapara and Dargapara, of Ward No. 5 of Haripur Union in Paba have come under the scheme. Their allowance started last May, with each family receiving Tk 2,500 per month.

He said the assistance was playing an important role in the lives of marginalised and low-income families, particularly in meeting children's education, medical treatment and daily household expenses.

The administration is giving importance to ensuring that genuinely helpless and disadvantaged families regularly receive the benefit, he added.

For Ripa, sitting in her tin-shed house on the banks of the Padma, the dream remains simple -- to see her son and daughter continue their education and one day change their lives.

The loss of her husband may never be overcome, but the Family Card assistance has given her family some financial strength to face the hardship of everyday life.