National
PM announces 12 districts, 123 upazilas free of homeless-landless people
In a recent development, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared 12 new districts and 123 upazilas (sub-districts) to be free of homeless and landless populations. This announcement came as part of the ongoing Ashrayan-2 project, which aims to provide housing to vulnerable families. A total of 22,101 families were provided with semi-pucca houses under this initiative.
The Prime Minister made this significant declaration during a video conference from her official residence, Ganabhaban. With these newly added districts and upazilas, the tally has now reached 21 districts and 334 upazilas across the nation that have successfully eradicated homelessness and landlessness.
During the event, keys to 22,101 houses and ownership documents for parcels of land were handed over to families in various districts. This effort is part of the larger endeavor to rehabilitate around 115,000 individuals within these houses.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina personally engaged with beneficiaries and local residents at three different locations. This distribution marked the sixth occasion of such an event during the Mujib Year, which commemorates the birth centenary of the nation’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The specific locations where the housing was distributed include the Barasat Sonar Bangla Palli Ashrayan Project site in Terokhada Upazila (Khulna), Chakla Ashrayan-2 project site in Bera Upazila (Pabna), and Amanullahpur Ashrayan project site in Begumganj Upazila (Noakhali district).
Prime Minister Hasina’s administration has not only focused on providing shelter but also on empowerment. The 12 districts newly recognized for their achievement in eliminating landlessness and homelessness are Manikganj, Rajbari, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Dinajpur, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna, Kushtia, Pirojpur, and Jhalakathi.
In an extensive list, the 123 upazilas include various regions across the country. These efforts signify the government’s commitment to addressing the plight of the homeless and landless population, with a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation.
The distribution ceremony was overseen by PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah. Notably, this declaration follows the earlier recognition of nine districts as landless and homeless people-free districts on two separate occasions. In total, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has provided homes to a remarkable 829,607 families through various projects and programs aimed at uplifting the vulnerable. This comprehensive effort has led to the rehabilitation of approximately 4,148,035 individuals since 1997, under the Ashrayan project overseen by the Prime Minister’s Office, as of July 2023.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has issued forecasts of rain or thundershowers for Dhaka, Rangpur, and five other divisions, commencing from 9 am today and extending over the next 24 hours. This weather forecast encompasses Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, and Sylhet divisions, where accompanying gusty or squally winds are anticipated during the rainfall. Additionally, Chattogram division is expected to experience some activity, albeit in fewer places, with the potential for hail in isolated areas.
The BMD bulletin highlights that various areas within these seven divisions may witness significant thunderstorm activity, accompanied by temporary gusty or squally winds, with isolated occurrences of hail.
Temperature levels across the nation are projected to remain consistent, both during daytime and at night. Over the past 24-hour period, Rajshahi recorded the highest temperature in the country at 34.7 degrees Celsius, while Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, experienced the lowest temperature at 21.2 degrees Celsius.
Dhaka witnessed the most substantial rainfall, measuring up to 87mm. Residents in the affected divisions are advised to prepare for adverse weather conditions and stay informed about further forecasts from the BMD.
The Jashore Education Board has achieved the highest pass rate of 92.32% among the nine boards in the 2024 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination, according to official data.
Conversely, Sylhet remained at the bottom with a pass rate of 73.35%, continuing its trend from last year when it also recorded the lowest pass rate of 76.06%.
Data from the education board website reveals that the Dhaka board secured a pass rate of 83.92%, while Rajshahi board achieved 89.25%, Cumilla board 79.20%, Barishal board 89.13%, Chattogram board 82.80%, Dinajpur board 78.40%, and Mymensingh board 84.97%.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the results of this year’s SSC and equivalent examinations. Students have been able to access their results through the official website.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched the 2024 Hajj program (1445 hijri) in Ashkona, the capital, today, May 8th.
Subsequently, she exchanged pleasantries with the Hajj pilgrims at the Ashkona Hajj camp.
The maiden Hajj flight is set to depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Saudi Arabia on Thursday (May 9).
Dedicated Hajj flights will also operate from Chattogram and Sylhet airports, landing at Jeddah and Medina airports.
This year, 85,257 Bangladeshi pilgrims are expected to undertake the holy journey. Among them, 4,562 will be under government management, while 80,695 will be managed privately.
The Hajj is tentatively scheduled for June 15th, contingent upon the moon sighting.
In attendance were Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqur Rahman, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Religious Affairs Ministry Mohammad Huchamuddin Chowdhury, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh Essa Yousef Essa Alduhailan, and president of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Shahadat Hossain Taslim.
Religious Affairs Minister Md Faridul Haque Khan chaired the inaugural function, while Religious Affairs Secretary Md A Hamid Zamadder delivered the welcome address.
