State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has sought the cooperation of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to modernise the gas and electricity transmission and distribution systems in the country’s south-western region. He made the call at a meeting with JICA's newly appointed Chief Representative to Bangladesh Tomohide Ichiguchi at the latter’s office at the Secretariat on Wednesday. “After construction of the Padma Bridge, a rapid development is taking place in the south-western part of the country. JICA can play a major role in modernising electricity transmission and distribution systems in the region,”he told Tomohide. During the meeting they discussed various issues related to mutual interest. Welcoming the newly appointed chief representative, Nasrul Hamid said that JICA is one of the main development partners of Bangladesh. He also requested the JICA local chief to extend cooperation to Bangladesh Power Management Institute (BPMI) to make it an international quality training institute for the development of human resources. Read: Relations with Bangladesh now deeper, more extensive: JICA  He observed that a huge investment opportunity has been created in the distribution and transmission sector. He also requested the JICA to conduct a study on local area-based load management and possible power transmission to meet the requirements.  Integrated master plan for energy and power, renewable energy, wind power, change in electricity consumption pattern, energy demand in industry, modernization of power and energy sector, land development of Maheshkhali, gas pipeline installation projects also came up for discussion. The JICA chief representative said, Bangladesh is his old work station. “JICA's will remain with Bangladesh to promote its development. JICA will continue to work for the development of BPMI,”he assured the state minister. JICA outgoing chief representative Yoho Hayakawa was also present on the occasion.

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.