Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday handed over 680 houses to the homeless and landless families in Rangamati as a gift before Eid-ul-Azha under the government's flagship housing program, the Ashrayan-2 project, to ensure housing for all.
She distributed the houses along with the ownership documents of land among a total of 18,566 beneficiaries across the country through videoconferencing from her official Ganabhaban residence.
In Rangamati, 40 Machang houses have been built in Kaptai Upazila. Of these, 18 new houses are in Chitmaram Union and 22 in Raikhali Union. The rest of the 640 houses have been built in eight other upazilas.
Kaptai Upazila Project Implementation Officer Ruhul Amin said that the construction work of the houses was completed ahead of the handover program.
According to the Rangamati district administration, the houses and 200 plots were handed over to 40 poor families in Kaptai.
Machang houses have been built in Kaptai so that they go well with the local environment and traditions. Each of the houses has been constructed at a cost of Tk2.65 lakh.
Besides, four semi-finished houses were handed over in Rangamati Sadar Upazila, 422 in Naniarchar, 11 in Bilaichhari, 35 in Barkal Upazila, 126 in Langadu, 25 in Rajasthali and 13 in Kaukhali Upazila.
PM Hasina: Ashrayan houses bring dignity to homeless peopleKaptai Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Mohiuddin said the keys to and documents of the houses will be handed over to the beneficiaries soon.
Locals say these huts built on large poles are environmentally friendly, and the hill slopes were also not damaged.
Moreover, the residents will be able to easily store their vegetables in these Machang houses. These traditional houses are built five to six feet above the ground, and the only materials used are bamboo and mountain ash.
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Khan asserted that the Machang houses are integral to local traditions and history. They are important in protecting the hilly region's culture and environment.
In addition, the transportation of bricks, rods, and sand for the construction of concrete houses in remote areas requires significant financial investment. He added that the construction of the Machang houses saved a significant amount of money.
