Jannatul Fardous
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the houses being given free of costs under the Ashrayan projects are bringing self-dignity and self-respect for the homeless and landless people.
The premier made the remarks while handing over 18,566 more houses to homeless and landless families as gift before Eid across the country under the government’s flagship housing programme-Ashrayan-2 Prakalpa to ensure housing for all.
She distributed the homes along with the ownership documents of land among the beneficiaries through a video-conferencing from a function at her official Ganabhaban residence here.
“We’re providing the houses as Eid gift,” sheikh Hasina said. She said her government’s main duty is to serve the people as they have kept confidence in the Awami League and voted the her party to power time and again.
“Our duty is to serve the people. My father announced himself as the servant of the people. I am also working as the servant of the people following the footprints of my father,” she added.
The prime minister said her government is working to give the people a beautiful and improved life as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.
Sheikh Hasina said her government first initiated the Ashrayan project giving houses to 70 families at Saint Martin Island of Cox’s Bazar in 1997 coming to power after 21 years following the footprints of the Father of the Nation.
The prime minister said her government is taking measures to fulfill every demand of the people.
“We are fulfilling the basic rights of the people that include food, clothing, accommodation, treatment and education guaranteed by the constitution,” she said.
The head of the government called upon the beneficiaries to take care of the houses considering those as their own properties.
Highlight various programmes taken by her government for the overall development, the prime minister said they have transformed Bangladesh into a developing country and digital one by implementing the Vision 2021.
The prime minister assured all that her government will always remain beside the people affected by the natural calamities.
“You (natural calamity affected people) don’t need to worry as we are ready to stand by you,” she said.
She also said they are working to ensure civic amenities for the rural people across the country.
“We’ll bring every village under the coverage of the civic amenities and the people of every village will enjoy it,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina, as well, thanked the Nation and leaders and activists of the Awami League for movement to release her from the jail on this day in 2008.
She said she was arrested in July of 2007 in false cases filed by the then caretaker government and the BNP-Jamaat alliance government.
The prime minister said her government is extending all kind of assistances to increase food production.
She also announced 70 more upazilas of 26 districts landless-and-homeless-free by handing over the houses under the second stage of the fifth phase of Ashrayan-2 Prakalpa, raising the number of landless and homeless free districts to 58 and the upazilas to 464 across the country.The premier later exchanged views with the beneficiaries.
PM’s Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah moderated the house distribution programme.
A video documentary on the house schemes was also screened on the occasion.
The prime minister distributed 1,282 houses in Lalmonirhat, 261 in Cox’s Bazar and 1,234 in Bhola districts.
