DHAKA, March 21, 2023 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over 39365 more houses under Ashrayan-2 project to landless and homeless families tomorrow as part of the government's target of ensuring housing for the landless and homeless people.

This is the fourth phase of the Ashrayan-2 project while 63,999 houses were distributed in first phase, 53,330 in second phase and 59,133 in third phase. With the distribution of 39365 more houses, the total number will stand at 2,15, 827 under the Ashrayan-2 Project.

Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Mohammad Tofazzel Hossain Miah disclosed the information at a press conference at Karabi Hall of Prime Minister's Office (PMO) here this afternoon.

PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, PMO Director General (Administration) Mohd. Ahsan Kibria Siddiqui and Project Director of Ashrayan-2 Project Abu Saleh Mohammad Ferdous Khan were present on the occasion.
  
Under the project, the landless and homeless people will get good quality tin-shed semi-pucca houses on two decimals of land.

The Principal Secretary said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over houses along with lands in the fourth phase by virtually joining the ceremonies in three upazilas of the country from her official Ganabhaban residence. 

The premier will directly exchange views with the beneficiaries of Nayapara Ashrayan project under Sreepur upazila in Gazipur district, Noagaon Ashrayan project under Gowainghat upazila in Sylhet and Uttarpar Ashrayan project under Banaripara in Barishal.

Tofazzel Hossain Miah said the Prime Minister will also declare seven districts and 159 upazilas as homeless and landless free areas tomorrow. Earlier, she declared Panchagarh and Magura as homeless-landless free districts.

With tomorrow's announcement, the total number of homeless-landless free districts will be nine and upazilas will be 211, he said.

The principal secretary said if anyone of these areas becomes homeless and landless due to river erosion, natural disaster or any other reason, they will be given houses along with land.

Replying to a question, he said ownership of land is given to both husband and wife and land registration and mutation are also given after the names of both husband and wife.
Tofazzel Hossain Miah said the government is not only building houses of the project on khas land rather lands are being bought from Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust to build houses.

Donations from individuals are also received to this end, he mentioned.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman introduced the rehabilitation programme for homeless people in 1972.

Following the footprints of Bangabandhu, her daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the initiative to provide ownership of houses and lands to homeless and landless people through the Ashrayan Project in 1997. 

Under the Ashrayan project, a total of 7,71,301 families have been rehabilitated so far since 1997. The number of rehabilitated people is 38,56,505 (estimated as five persons in a family). 

Ashrayan Project of the PMO has already rehabilitated 5,54,597 families directly while 2,16,704 families were rehabilitated under different programmes of concerned government offices, including Land Ministry and Disaster Management and Relief Ministry.