Jannat Khatun, a student of grade-3, now wants to be a doctor after getting a permanent abode a few months ago under Ashrayan-2 project at Kagoldighi village in Boda Upazila here.
Jannat’s family used to lead a miserable life in a hut on Khasland there. Her father Rabiul Islam, a day labourer, was unable to make a permanent shelter for their four-member family.
“Now we’re in a better condition. We feel better staying in the semi-pucca house,” she said on Wednesday.
Noting that she would continue her study, the smart girl said, “I want to be a doctor. I will serve the people.”
Her lone brother is a student of grade-I.
Visiting her house, two portraits of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina alongside her childhood image were seen on the wall of their new house.
Asked who displayed the portrait, Jannat replied that she kept these on the wall. “I thank the Prime Minister. She gave us the house.”
A total of 60 landless families got permanent houses in the same village under Ashrayan-2 project of the Prime Minister’s Office.
Read: Ashrayan-2: 32,904 families to get homes ahead of Eid
Like them, 26,229 landless families are getting the houses as part of the third phase of Ashrayan-2 scheme on Thursday.
PM Hasina will inaugurate the distribution of 26,229 more houses among the landless families across the country through a virtual function in the morning.
Earlier, more than 1.5 lakh houses were distributed among the landless families under the housing scheme as part of the government’s commitment made on the occasion of the Mujib Year to ensure shelter for all the homeless in the country.
In the function, the premier will also announce Panchagarh and Magura as the landless-homeless-free districts as all the landless families are being rehabilitated with modern abodes there.
A total of 52 upazilas of different districts, including all the eight upazilas of Panchagarh and Magura, will also be announced as having no landless and homeless families. Some 19,780 landless families were rehabilitated in the 52 upazilas.
Deputy Commissioner of Panchagarh Md Jahirul Islam on Wednesday said they found a total of 4,850 landless-homeless families in the district. “We’ve constructed houses for all 4,850 families. More than 15,159 landless people are getting accommodation in the houses,” he said.
The DC said they sought applications from the landless people through loud speakers at different public places. “If anyone is found landless now, we will provide a house immediately,” he said.
Read: Ashrayan-2: Over 53,000 houses set to be distributed in June
The 52 landless-free upazilas are Nawabganj in Dhaka; Madaripur Sadar; Damudya in Shariatpur; Katiadi in Kishoreganj; Gopalpur in Tangail; Ghior and Saturia in Manikganj; Kalukhali in Rajbari; Nagarkanda in Faridpur; Madan in Netrokona; Bhaluka, Nandail, Phulpur and Fulbaria in Mymensingh; Bakshiganj in Jamalpur; Patiya, Karnaphuli, Satkania and Lohagara in Chattogram; Raipur and Ramganj in Laxmipur; Feni Sadar, Chhagalnaiya, Fulgazi and Parshuram in Feni; Gobindaganj in Gaibandha; Atwari, Panchagarh Sadar, Debiganj, Tetulia and Boda in Panchagarh; Nawabganj in Dinajpur; Baliadangi in Thakurgaon; Dimla in Nilphamari; Raninagar in Naogaon; Panchbibi in Joypurhat; Mohonpur, Charghat and Bagha in Rajshahi; Nandigram and Dupchanchia in Bogura; Bagatipara in Natore; Ishwardi in Pabna; Shibganj in Chapainawabganj; Harinakundu in Jhenaidah; Tala in Satkhira; Magura Sadar, Sreepur, Mohammadpur and Shalikha in Magura; Kathalia in Jhalakathi and Dashmina in Patuakhali.
In the third phase of Ashrayan-2 project, some 67,800 houses are being provided among landless and homeless families. Of these, 32,904 houses were handed over on April 26 last, 26,229 ones will be handed over on Thursday and the construction of 8,667 other houses is still underway.
In the first two phases, 117,329 semi-pucca houses along with two decimal lands were distributed among the homeless people on January 23, 2021 and June 20, 2021 on the occasion of the Mujib Year marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The government recovered some 5,512 acres of Khas lands to construct houses for homeless people throughout the country and approximate market value of these lands is Tk 2,967 crore.
Besides, the government procured 191.79 acres of lands at cost of Tk 134 crore for construction of houses under the Ashrayan-2 project. And 8,462 landless families have so far been rehabilitated on the procured lands.