Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to deliver 22,101 homes to landless and homeless families as part of the Ashrayan-2 project on Wednesday (August 8). This move comes alongside the announcement of 12 more districts being declared free from homelessness and landlessness. With the addition of these districts and their upazilas, the total count of such districts across the country will reach 21, encompassing 334 upazilas. The declaration was communicated by Mohammad Tofazzel Hossain Miah, the Principal Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, during a press conference at Karabi Hall. The event was attended by officials including PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin and Ashrayan-2 Project Director Abu Saleh Mohammad Ferdous Khan.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to inaugurate the distribution of semi-pucca houses through a video conference from her official residence, Ganabhaban. The homes will be furnished with keys and ownership documents for a two-decimal land plot. Approximately 115,000 individuals will be beneficiaries of this initiative on the given day.
The Principal Secretary highlighted that under the Ashrayan project and various related programs, over 820,607 families have been rehabilitated since 1997. This effort has benefited around 4,148,035 individuals, assuming an average of five persons per family. Of these, 555,617 families (equivalent to 2,778,085 individuals) have been directly aided by the Ashrayan Project.
Tofazzel Hossain Miah emphasized that this initiative stands out globally, as it provides not only houses and lands, but also essential utilities like electricity and water supply. He noted that due to this comprehensive approach, Bangladesh’s rehabilitation program has significantly reduced the numbers of extreme poverty and floating populations.
The Prime Minister will preside over the distribution of houses at three locations: Barasat Sonar Bangla Palli Ashrayan project in Terokhada upazila (Khulna district), Chakla Ashrayan-2 project in Bera upazila (Pabna), and Amanullahpur Ashrayan project in Begumganj (Noakhali).
Moreover, during this event, the districts of Manikganj, Rajbari, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna, Kushtia, Pirojpur, and Jhalakathi will be designated as landless and homeless-free areas.
This marks the second phase of the fourth stage of the Ashrayan-2 project. In the first stage of this phase, 39,365 houses were distributed on March 22, 2023. The prior stages of the project distributed 63,999 houses under the first phase, 53,330 under the second phase, and 59,133 in two stages during the Mujib-Barshao celebration.
After the distribution of 22,101 homes in this phase, the overall count under the Ashrayan-2 Project will reach 238,851. Additionally, the Principal Secretary noted that the government plans to offer houses and lands to those who might become homeless due to reasons like river erosion, natural disasters, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Through this endeavor, the government aims to provide land ownership to both spouses, ensuring equal rights and registration. Furthermore, Tofazzel Hossain Miah highlighted that the houses are not solely built on government-owned land; they also purchase land from the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust and receive donations from individuals.
He addressed queries regarding future plans, stating that the government will extend assistance to those who are in need of better housing or whose homes are dilapidated after the current landless and homeless rehabilitation process concludes.
The upcoming declaration of 123 upazilas as landless and homeless-free areas encompasses various regions, spanning from Shariatpur to Sunamganj. This initiative is aligned with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s commitment to following her father’s legacy, initiated by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1972, to provide housing and land to those without homes.
