Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will provide houses to 18,566 homeless and landless families across the country as her Eid gift on the occasion of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. This initiative is part of the second stage of the fifth phase of the Ashrayan-2 Project.
The premier will inaugurate the handing over of the semi-pucca homes by joining a function virtually from her official residence, Ganabhaban, on Tuesday morning.
Beneficiaries and locals will be connected to the function via videoconference.
The objective of the project, which has been running for more than two decades, is to rehabilitate the landless, homeless, marginalized, and helpless poor, empower them for livelihood through credit and training, and eradicate poverty by creating income-generating activities.
Early picture of Ashrayan project
The prime minister announced that "not a single person in Bangladesh will remain homeless" during the Mujib Year.
To implement this directive, policies were formulated to compile a list of landless and homeless families. This list was created by a committee consisting of local people's representatives, district commissioners, upazila executive officers, other upazila officials, and UP Chairmen. Based on this list, housing is being provided for every family.
According to the prepared list, the activities of house construction and family rehabilitation are ongoing. Each family is being given a single house, allowing them to live separately.
On the occasion of the Mujib centenary, houses built on two decimals of land have been handed over to 266,012 families across the country in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th phases, where they are now living happily and peacefully.
The 2nd stage of 5th phase
In the 5th phase, the remaining 18,566 families are being provided houses.
Officials from the Prime Minister's Office are directly inspecting the construction work at the field level. Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Upazila Executive Officers, Assistant Commissioners (Lands), Upazila Engineers, Upazila Project Implementation Officers, and local public representatives are working hard to implement the house construction work and verify the list.
Through this process, a total of 394 upazilas, including all the upazilas of 32 districts, have been declared landless and homeless free in six installments.
At this stage, on June 11, a total of 70 upazilas in 26 districts were declared completely landless and homeless free.
According to sources in the Prime Minister's Office, in the second phase of the fifth phase, houses are being distributed as follows: 630 houses in Gaibandha of Rangpur division, 321 in Kurigram, 1049 in Rangpur, 909 in Dinajpur, 1282 in Lalmonirhat, 55 in Naogaon of Rajshahi division, 184 in Sirajganj, 20 in Joypurhat, 130 in Rajshahi, 186 in Bogra, 872 in Natore, Jhenaidah in Khulna division. 603, Chuadanga 10, Satkhira 250, Jessore 362, Meherpur 229, Khulna 84, Narail 213, Bagerhat 812, Dhaka Division 519, Gopalganj 736, Madaripur 320, Shariatpur 243, Kishoreganj 330, Gazipur 26, Tangail 103, Munshiganj 9, Faridpur 69, 177 in Mymensingh Division, 329 in Jamalpur, 183 in Sylhet Division, 81 in Sunamganj, 261 in Chittagong Division, 250 in Chittagong, 680 in Rangamati, 382 in Khagrachari, 50 in Brahmanbaria, 106 in Noakhali 900 in 186 houses will be distributed in Comilla, 240 in Feni, 2217 in Bhola of Barisal division, 85 in Jhalakathi, 353 in Barguna, 30 in Patuakhali, and 462 in Barisal.
Each housing unit consists of two rooms, a kitchen, a toilet, and a veranda. Alongside the houses, the ownership documents of two decimals of land were given to each family.
So far, 58 districts and 464 upazilas have been declared completely landless and homeless free.
According to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's directives, the Ashrayan Project will continue until the entire country is free from landlessness and homelessness.
Ensure women empowerment
Several officials from the Prime Minister's Office told Dhaka Tribune that the "Sheikh Hasina Model of Inclusive Development" aims to make ongoing economic development sustainable in the long term.
As part of this initiative, the Prime Minister is incorporating landless, homeless, and dispossessed people into inclusive development through the Ashrayan Project.
Semi-furnished single houses are being provided to disadvantaged sections of society, along with ownership of two decimals of land. By gaining ownership of land and houses, these individuals become active participants in the economic development process.
As a result, the quality of life for these people is improving significantly. To further include women in the mainstream of development and ensure women's empowerment, ownership of the sheltered houses and land is granted jointly to both husband and wife.
Rehabilitated family members are also receiving training on saving money and various productive skills. Modern civic amenities are being provided, including free electricity connections and drinking water facilities in every house.
An assistant engineer of the Prime Minister's Office Ashrayan-II Project, Tanim Chowdhury, told Dhaka Tribune that the Prime Minister will declare Borhanuddin, Charfashion, and Manpura landless and homeless among the seven upazilas of Bhola on Tuesday.
Later, Bhola Sadar, Daulatkhan, Lalmohan, and Tazumuddin upazilas are expected to be covered under the Ashrayan Project, he added.