8,278 homeless to get houses in Rangpur division tomorrow

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By Engr Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, Jan 22, 2021 (BSS) – Some 8,278 homeless families are eagerly waiting to get new houses tomorrow as gifts from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the Mujib Year under the first phase of Asrayan-2 Project in Rangpur division.

“The Prime Minister is likely to hand over ownership of 8,278 houses through a videoconferencing to 8,278 ‘ka’ category homeless families tomorrow,” Divisional Commissioner Md. Abdul Wahhab Bhuiyan told BSS.

As pledged by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the 8,278 homeless families will get new houses marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman so that none remained shelter-less within the Mujib Year.

Talking to BSS, members of the selected 8,278 homeless families said they are eagerly waiting to get the colourful houses with corrugated iron sheets on roofs, two bedrooms, one kitchen, one hygienic sanitary latrine, one utility space and veranda.

Widow Ashrafon Nesa, 60, a housemaid of village Uttar Soyar Paschim Para in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur said, “I am happy to get a new house from Bangabandhu’s daughter and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tomorrow.”

“When I came to know that I have been selected to get a new brick-built house nearby Faridabad Asrayan-2 Project, I started feeling well even at this stage of my life,” Nesa said.

Beggar Mai Begum, 65, of village Faridabad Khanbari in the same upazila, said she led a miserable life since her father and mother, who were also beggars, died decades ago.

“I slept hither and thither after begging all day,” she said, adding that she is very happy now knowing the news of getting a house from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday.

Homeless Shudhir Chandra, 60, a farm-labourer of village Dakshin Damodarpur in the same union said he cannot work now in crop field after undergoing surgery for heart ailments five years ago.

“I led a wretched life with my wife Dipali Rani, 45, daughters Chamtola, 12, and Sumitra, 9. I will get a house from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tomorrow,” he said.

Widow Zainab Begum, 60, of Goddimari union in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat, said she had to live in the houses of others with her two daughters amid miseries for many years.

“I forgot all my sufferings instantly after knowing that a house has been allotted for me from the Prime Minister’s Asrayan-2 Project,” she said, adding that she is waiting eagerly to get the house from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Similarly, Billal Hossain, 55, a homeless day-labourer of Yogi Para village in Panchagarh Sadar upazila, said he had to lead a miserable life in a makeshift thatched house with his wife and children.

“I am waiting for getting a new house from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina like many other homeless people,” said a happy Hossain.

The beneficiaries prayed for a long life, sound health and continuous success of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in serving the nation to build a developed ‘Sonar Bangla’ and realise the dream of Bangabandhu.

Talking to BSS, Additional Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana said the government is spending Taka 201 crore for constructing 11,753 brick-built semi pucca houses in two phases under Asrayan-2 Project in Rangpur division.

“The upazila administrations are constructing construction works of the house spending Taka 1.71 lakh for each house under a strict monitoring system for ensuring quality of works”, he said.

He continued construction of 8,278 climate-resilient houses has been completed in the first phase and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to hand over ownership of the houses to selected 8,278 ‘ka’ category homeless families’ tomorrow.

Besides, construction of other 3,475 houses in the second phase of Asrayan-2 Project continues for handing over to another 3,475 homeless families in the ‘Mujib Year’ across the division, he added.

“Asrayan Project, one of the Prime Minister’s 10 special initiatives, aims at ensuring shelter for all homeless people to help them rebuild life, improve living standard and health care and skill development on income generating activities,” Rana added.