Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Wednesday, August 09, 2023) declared another 12 districts and 123 upazilas free of homeless and landless people as 22,101 more families were provided with abodes under Ashrayan-2 project. She made the announcement and opened the distribution of the semi-pucca houses to the homeless and landless families through a videoconference from her official residence Ganabhaban. With the 12 districts and 123 upazilas, a total of 21 districts and 334 upazilas throughout the country have so far become homeless and landless family-free ones. The keys of 22,101 houses and the ownership documents of a two-decimal of house lands were handed over to the families in different districts of the country. Some 115,000 people are being rehabilitated in the houses. The premier was connected virtually with the beneficiaries and local people of three places while distributing the houses to the landless and homeless families on the sixth occasion since Mujib Year. Read: Go all out for the victory of AL-nominated candidates in upcoming national election: PM Hasina asks party members The three places are Barasat Sonar Bangla Palli Ashrayan Project site in Terokhada Upazila under Khulna, Chakla Ashrayan-2 project site in Bera Upazila under Pabna, and Amanullahpur Ashrayan project site in Begumganj Upazila under Noakhali district. The 12 districts that earned the distinction of becoming free of landless and homeless families are Manikganj, Rajbari, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Dinajpur, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna, Kushtia, Pirojpur and Jhalakathi. The 123 upazilas include Gosairhat in Shariatpur district; Kuliarchar, Nikli, Hossainpur, Bajitpur, Mithamoin and Karimganj in Kishoreganj; Ghatail, Nagarpur, Mirzapur, Kalihati and Basail in Tangail; Shibaloy, Harirampur and Sadar in Manikganj; Sreenagar and Tongibari in Munshiganj; Goalanda in Rajbari; Sonargaon, Rupganj, Araihazar and Sadar in Narayanganj; Boalmari, Charbhadrasan, Bhanga and Sadar in Faridpur; Iswarganj, Haluaghat, Dhobaura, Gafargaon, Muktagacha and Sadar in Mymensingh; Sreebardi and Sadar in Sherpur; Islampur and Sarishabari in Jamalpur; Pekua, Ukhia and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar; Hathazari and Anwara in Chattogram; Matlab Dakkhin and Kachua in Chandpur; Begumganj, Sonaimuri, Chatkhil, Senbug and Sadar in Noakhali; Nangalkot, Barura, Homna, Titas, Meghna, Meghna and Burichang in Cumilla; Daganbhuiyan in Feni, Palashbari in Gaibandha; Badarganj in Rangpur; Bochaganj, Birganj, Chirirbandar, Parbatipur, Fulbari, Birampur, Hakimpur, Ghoraghat and Sadar in Dinajpur. Read: Mass people are our only masters, no one else: PM Hasina tells AL special meet The other upazilas are Pirganj, Ranisankail and Sadar in Thakurgaon; Domar and Jaldhaka in Nilphamari; Atrai, Badalgachi, Manda, Niamatpur, Porsha, Sapahar and Sadar in Naogaon; Tarash, Shahjadpur and Kamarkhanda in Sirajganj; Gabtoli, Adamdighi and Sadar in Bogura; Singra, Naldanga and Sadar in Natore; Chatmohar, Bera, Faridpur, Bhangura and Sujanagar in Pabna; Jhenaidah Sadar; Kaliganj and Sadar in Satkhira; Jashore Sadar in Jashore; Khoksha in Kushtia; Dighalia in Khulna; Kalia in Narail; Pirojpur Sadar in Pirojpur; Jhalakathi Sadar; Kalapara and Galachipa in Patuakhali; Patharghata, Betagi, Taltali in Barguna; Beanibazar, Companiganj,Golapganj, Gowainghat and Zakiganj in Sylhet; Sreemangal, Moulvibazar Sadar, Kulaura, Barlekha and Juri in Moulvibazar; Shayestaganj, Bahubal, Lakhai, Habiganj Sadar and Madhabpur in Habiganj; and Shalla and Dharmapasha in Sunamganj. PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah conducted the function. Earlier, the premier declared nine districts – Panchagarh, Magura, Madaripur, Gazipur, Narsingdi, Joypurhat, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Chuadanga – as landless and homeless people-free districts on two occasions. Read: PMO for increasing leather export to $5 billion within four years The premier has so far given houses to a total of 8,29,607 families under Ashrayan projects and other programmes. Some 4,148,035 people have been rehabilitated in the houses. Of them, 2,778,085 people (of 555,617 families) have rehabilitated only under the Ashrayan project, run by the Prime Minister's Office (since 1997 to July 2023).

International Affairs Sub-Committee of Bangladesh Awami League will host a fair at Gulshan Society Park in the city on Friday. The fair titled "100 Years of Mujib: The Golden Bengal Fest" will be held as part of the birth centenary celebrations of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and golden jubilee of the country’s independence. The fair will begin at 3pm and will continue till 6 pm. Also read: Lalon Festival begins in Kushtia today Ministers, Members of Parliament, diplomats, representatives of the international organizations and central leaders of Bangladesh Awami League will join the fair. The fair promises to be filled with all things celebrated in rich Bengali cultural heritage, including art features, rural heritage, native food, local weavings, folk music and the pride of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Golden Bengal, said the organizers on Thursday. Dr. Shammi Ahmed, International Affairs Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League, invited all to join the fair. Also read: 10th 'Liberation DocFest' underway at LWM

The Independence Award won by the Power Division has been handed over to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her visionary leadership in reaching electricity to every house of the country in the Mujib Year. The Power Division on Thursday was given the Independence Award-2022, the highest state honour, in recognition of its remarkable success to bring 100 per cent of the country under electricity coverage by increasing the daily power generation capacity to 25,512 MW. Read:PM distributes Independence Award to 9 people, 2 organisations State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid received the award from the PM at the award-giving ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office. Later on Thursday, the state minister handed over the prestigious award (medal and certificate) to the prime minister, who is also in  charge of the power, energy and mineral resources ministry, said PM’s Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas on Friday. The power sector officials said it was possible to bring the entire country under electricity coverage thanks to Hasina’s visionary leadership, policy and strategy. “She is the architect of this glorious achievement,” they said. The prime minister earlier announced that every house of the country will be illuminated in the Mujib Year. Read:Eleven chosen for Independence Award 2022 Since taking over the responsibility of the power ministry  the PM has directly led the work to accomplish the goal of lighting up every house.  So, she deserves this honour, they said. PM’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Affairs Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus and Power Division Secretary Md Habibur Rahman were present on the occasion.

President Abdul Hamid will inaugurate the "World Peace Conference-2021" on December 4 that will bring together global thinkers, political personalities and peace promoters. The conference aims at infusing momentum in peace diplomacy and looking back on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s vision and political struggle for peace. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the closing ceremony of the two-day conference on December 5. Both the President and the Prime Minister will join the event virtually.  Bangladesh is hosting the World Peace Conference as a part of its celebrations of the Mujib Year, the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh. The conference, to be held in a hybrid format, will also shed light on the legacy being carried forward by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her “untiring quest” of building a peaceful, just, rights-based, inclusive and prosperous nation. “Bangladesh will get a special document through adoption of - Dhaka Peace Declaration – which will work as a reference for Bangladesh’s all peace and security-related global initiatives to be taken in the future,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said while briefing reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were also present. Dr Momen said Bangladesh did not invite any head of states or governments to the conference but invited peace activists, writers, poets, singers and civil societies from different countries to join the conference for promoting a culture of peace and tolerance. Representatives from 50 countries will join the conference both virtually and in person. Around 59 participants from over 30 countries will join in person while around 40 guests will join virtually. Some of the guests will send video messages. Read: In eulogy, S African FM calls Bangabandhu, Mandela great visionary leaders

As part of initiative taken to modernise the railway services, more than 50 railway stations are now being renovated on the occasion of the Mujib Year, said Railways Minister Md. Nurul Islam Sujan on Sunday. “The government has taken different initiatives in order to build a modern, up-to-date and advanced railway communication system,” he said. The minister said this while laying the foundation stone of a modern public toilet adjacent to the Kamalapur Railway Station here. WaterAid Bangladesh and Bangladesh Railway jointly constructed the toilet, said a PID handout. “Some 52 railway stations are being renovated and modernised throughout the country on the occasion of the Mujib birth centenary. These will have modern toilets,” he said. Read: After 56 yrs, Bangladesh-India rail link to reopen Sunday Nurul said many projects are now being implemented and many others have already been undertaken for the development of the railway sector. “Old rail tracks and bridges are being repaired. New rail coaches and engines are being brought. The new trains would have bio toilets to avoid the pollution of the environment,” he said. He said the Khulna-Mongla railway and Tongi-Joydebpur double-track railway would be launched  next year. Had the railway faced no brunt of Coronavirus, the sector would be more developed now, he said. The minister said the Bangladesh Railway has taken initiative to form a consultancy firm under its own management as part of enhancing the capacity. “We would be able to provide consultancy service with our own manpower and thus it would save the foreign currency,” he said. Talking about the new public toilet, he said WaterAid Bangladesh and Bangladesh Railway will also construct two such toilets at the valiant freedom fighter Sirajul Islam Railway Station in Panchagarh and Ishwardi Railway Station in Pabna. Read: Dhaka’s first-ever metro rail set to start by December 2022, says project chief The public toilet would be a friendly one to women, children and even persons with disabilities.  Alongside the separate entry doors for both women and men, there would be safe water, rainwater conservation system, breast-feeding corner and solar power system in the toilets. Railway Secretary Md. Salim Reza and WaterAid Bangladesh country director Hasin Jahan also spoke at the function presided over by Director General of Bangladesh Railways Dhirendra Nath Mazumder.

As part of the ongoing celebration of ‘Mujib Year’, a second photo exhibition on the life and legacy of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman began on Tuesday in Seoul, South Korea. The Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul organized the four-day event in partnership with the Youngone Corporation at the cultural space of the Youngone Corporation in Seoul. Bangladesh Ambassador to South Korea Abida Islam and Chairman of the Youngone Corporation Sung Ki-hak jointly inaugurated the exhibition by a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  Officials of the Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul and Youngone Corporation and the members of the Bangladesh Community were present. The Embassy organized the first photo exhibition on the life and legacy of Bangabandhu at the heart of Seoul in partnership with the Korean Culture Association on July 9-13 at the THEO Gallery, Gangnam.    READ: Photo exhibition on life, legacy of Bangabandhu inaugurated in Seoul  Ambassador Abida Islam paid profound tribute to the memory of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bangalee of all time.  Highlighting the different aspects of Bangabandhu’s political activities and contributions, she said Bangabandhu’s enormous activities have been well reflected in the photographs displayed at the exhibition.

Abu Salek, in his early 40s, had a very painful life for the last 26 years as he had no home of his own. He now thinks life could be better, much better! “At one point of time things were horrible for me... I spent 26 years without a home,” Salek told the UNB correspondent in Brahmanbaria. Salek is no longer a homeless man as he, along with many others, got a semi-pucca two-decimal house gifted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in January last of the Mujib Year. Read ‘This is biggest festival ever’: Hasina about home distribution among homeless

At least 20 people including Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Sunamganj Sadar Arif Adnan and some members of  law enforcement agencies were injured in a clash with villagers in Adarbazar area of Sadar upazila on Thursday. Police said district administration started the construction of some news houses on a land as part of a government project on the occasion of ‘Mujib Year’. Read:Illegal sand mining: Sunamganj's biggest challenge At one stage , a group of villagers attacked AC Land Arif Adnan and members of police and Ansar with weapons, leaving them injured. Later, Arif told UNB that some villagers have been opposing  construction of houses for a long time  even though the land belonged to the government. He said everyone involved in the attack would be brought under justice. Read: Couple killed in Sunamganj over family feud Five people have been arrested over the incident so far. “Police fired blank shots to disperse the villagers. The  situation is currently under control. Additional police have been deployed.” Added the AC Land.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate 50 model mosques across the country on the occasion of 'Mujib Year' on Thursday. These are part of a project which would ultimately set up 560 mosques all over Bangladesh in the coming days. This was stated at a press briefing of the Ministry of Religious Affairs at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. Also read: Model mosques: A unique Mujib Borsho gift Md Faridul Haque Khan, state minister for religious affairs was present at the briefing. Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate the mosques at 10:30am through videoconferencing from her official residence, according to the briefing.

Some 53,500 more homeless and landless families are going to get semi-pucca houses in June under the Ashrayan-2 project. Earlier in January, some 70,000 homeless and landless families received tin-shed homes along with two decimals of land  under the special project run out of the Prime Minister's Office in the Mujib Year. Now the second phase of distribution of the semi-pucca houses will start early June, according to the plan taken in a meeting held with PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus in the chair Monday. Also read: Hasina inaugurates home distribution under Ashrayan-2 Project The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office to review the progress over the ongoing construction of houses under the Ashrayan-2 project.   PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah also spoke at the meeting, while Project Director of Ashrayan-2 Md Mahbub Hossain made a power-point presentation. All divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, upazila nirbahi officers (UNO) were virtually connected with the meeting. In the meeting, the field-level administration was directed to complete the construction of houses within the stipulated time maintaining the quality in works without any deviation. Alongside expediting the present construction works, the field officials were also asked to take preparations to construct another 125,000 houses for homeless people in the next year. The Principal Secretary directed the field officials not to compromise the quality of the houses. “If we find any deviation in it, we’ll show zero tolerance.  Any deviation will in no way be tolerated. Don’t take it lightly. We’ll not let anyone tarnish the image of the project or the initiative,” he said. Dr Kaikaus also said the noble deed like construction for homeless people is an excellent opportunity for the officers to show their efficiency in their career. He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s programme to alleviate poverty by providing homeless with houses is a rare model in the world. The Principal Secretary asked to prepare a database of beneficiaries of the Ashrayan project. Speaking at the meeting, the PMO Secretary asked the field officials to send the proposal to purchase lands for construction of the 125,000 houses in the next phase to the project director within the 15 days. Action will have to be taken immediately against anomalies, if any, Tofazzel Hossain added. In the second phase, the total number of allotted houses is 53,434. Of them, 7,280 houses in Dhaka division, while 2,512 in Mymensingh, 10,562 in Chattogram, 12,391 in Rangpur, 7,172 in Rajshahi, 3,911 in Khulna, 7,627 in Barishal and 1979 in Sylhet division.