By Md. Mamun Islam

 RANGPUR, May 27 , 2023 (BSS) – Apart from providing new houses, Asrayan-2 project has turned into a safe  abode that led to glitter many flashes of confidence of 46,930 resettled families of Rangpur division paving their  way to move   forward and achieve prosperity to change their fortunes.

Getting glitzy houses coupled with land ownership documents as gifts from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina under Asrayan-2 project marking the Mujib Year, the rehabilitated families are living in own houses happily with self-dignity and a new hope to rebuild their fortune. 

 Different government departments have taken comprehensive activities to provide training and assistance to rehabilitated people for making them self-reliant through income generating activities. 

 To increase their incomes, resettled people have started tree plantation, homestead gardening, vegetables and fruit farming, poultry, animal husbandry and pisciculture and getting non-formal education, health care, family planning and other facilities. 

 Talking to BSS, rehabilitated people expressed immense satisfaction and thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for gifting new houses to them with two bedrooms, one kitchen, one sanitary latrine and veranda and electricity facilities.

 Sexagenarian widow Nazira Bewa of village Bhangagora in Mornea union of Gangachara upazila in Rangpur said she had to pass her days in miseries on the lands of others for  years.

 “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina blessed me with a new house last year bringing back cheerfulness in my life and giving self-confidence and strength to lead a life with dignity at my own house,” said a more contented Nazira.

 After getting a new house, sexagenarian Abul Kashem of the same area said he had to live in misery on the lands of others for years.

 “At such a time, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina blessed me with a new house bringing happiness back in my life and giving strength to lead a better life again,” said a happier Kashem.

 Vision impaired youth Mithun of village Khamar Mohana in the same upazila said he led a miserable life without a home for many years.

 “Now, I have got a place to sleep peacefully after getting a house from our mother-like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” said Mithun, adding that he had no words to express his happiness for sleeping in his  own house.

 Widow Aklima Begum, 60, of Kazipara area in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur said she had to live on the lands of others for the last two decades since her husband died leaving behind three daughters.

 She received a new house with land ownership documents from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Kazipara Asrayan Project in the upazila.

 Now, she is living with her two daughters in the new house as her elder daughter was married off in the past.

 “I will pray to Almighty Allah for sound health and long life   and continuous success of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in bringing smiles to the poor,” she said.
 
Widow Nur Banu, 55, of Saddyapuskorini union in Rangpur Sadar upazila said she got a meaningful life to realise her dream of living in peace after getting a house with land ownership documents from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

 Three brothers, completely blind since their births, Shah Alam, Saidul Islam and Mamun Mian, sons of blind man Abdul Kader Mian of village Narsingha in Pirgachha upazila of Rangpur got new houses as gifts from PM Sheikh Hasina.

 The three poor brothers stunned and said they never even dreamed of residing in such houses.

 “Our poor mother gave birth to us and another kind-hearted mother, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has given us houses making our lives meaningful and giving new strength to lead lives with dignity,” said Shah Alam.

Elderly person Abu Sayed of Baikunthpur village in Chandanpat union of Rangpur Sadar upazila expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for gifting a house with land ownership documents.

 “My dream has now come true after getting the gift house from Sheikh Hasina. The house has deleted my disappointment giving new strength to lead a dignified life at own house,” he said.

Septuagenarian widow Saimun Nahar of village Khollapara in the same union said she never thought of  sleeping  at own house at this stage of her life after living on the lands of others in different places  for many years.

 “It is no less than a wonder to me that I have got a new house. My all thanks to  our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for gifting the house where I sleep peacefully now,” a smiling Nahar said.

 Sexagenarian Paritosh Chandra of village Kalapara in the same area said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has made his dream true by gifting a new house that has strengthened his self-confidence in rebuilding life anew to change fortune.
 
“I pray to God for her long life and continuous success in serving the nation,” said Paritosh, adding that he had no words to express gratitude to the Prime Minister.

Billal Hossain, 58, of Yogi Para village in Panchagarh Sadar said the new house gifted to him by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has faded away his sufferings after leading a despicable life with his wife and children for years.

 “I pray for a long life, sound health and continuous success of the Prime Minister in serving the nation to build a developed ‘Sonar Bangla’ and realise the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” Billal said.

Physically challenged Rahidul Islam, 40, of village Jabapripur in Bochaganj upazila of Dinajpur said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has gifted a new house paving the way to change his fortune through income generating activities to lead a life with dignity.

Sexagenarian Adita Begum of the same village said she slept here and there for many years. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has gifted her a new house where she sleeps now peacefully with a new hope to lead a better life.

 Landless couple Mahmuda Akhter, 30, and her husband Sheikh Farid, 35, of village Paschim Boragari in Domar upazila of Nilphamari thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for gifting a new house under the Asrayan-2 project marking the Mujib Year.

“The house has removed our frustration and strengthened our courage. We are leading a better life with our incomes and dreaming to educate our two children with a hope to make them worthy  citizens of the soil,” said Mahmuda.

 Widow Zainab Begum, 60, of Goddimari area in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat, said she has forgotten all miseries after getting a new house of Asrayan-2 project from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina marking the Mujib Year.

Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Dr. Chitralekha Nazneen said a total of 5,079 houses were handed over  among  the homeless and landless families of all eight upazilas in the district in four phases so far under the Asrayan-2 project.

    “Asrayan Project, one of the Prime Minister’s Ten  Special Initiatives, aims at ensuring shelter for all homeless people to assist them rebuild life, improve living standard, health care and skill development on income generating activities,” she added.

 Additional Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) Md. Ibrahim Khan told BSS that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already handed over 46,930 new houses in four phases under the Asrayan-2 project to homeless and landless families of Rangpur division.

 “Under the Asrayan-2 project, 13,130 homeless families have got houses in the first phase, 12,436 families in the second phase, 15,956 families in the third phase and 5,408 families in the first instalment of the fourth phase in the division,” Khan added.

 “The government is working to make the rehabilitated families self-reliant through income-generating activities to build a smart and developed Bangladesh by 2041 next leaving no one behind,” Khan added.