Dhaka, Jan. 25 -- The government has decided to expand coverage and increase benefit amounts under a range of social safety net programmes for the fiscal year 2026-27, following a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Social Safety Programmes.

The 32nd meeting of the committee was held at the Finance Division on Saturday at 2:00pm, with the Honourable Finance Adviser in the chair. The meeting reviewed programmes under the committee's mandate and fixed both the number of beneficiaries and the allowance rates for 15 major social safety schemes for the next fiscal year (2026-27).

Under the Ministry of Social Welfare, the number of beneficiaries of the Old Age Allowance has been increased by 100,000, taking the total to 6.2 million. ...