The government will start building over 24,000 homes for the poorest people in rural areas of Dhaka, Rangpur and Barishal districts within this month, marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The village houses will be built under the Prime Minister's Office's Ashrayan-2 project as part of the government initiative to construct 59,803 houses with a cost of 1022.62 crore taka across the country within the middle of the next year.
An official of the project said the dream of some poor people will come true once they get houses amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer will take all necessary measures to select land and landless poor in villages, the official said.
Finance division disbursed 400 crore taka in this regard on Sunday although project director sought an additional fund of 813.30 crore taka.
The ministry concerned had diverted to build those houses by transferring its funds from the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme, special grants and unused funds of unapproved projects.
According to the Ashrayan-2 project proposal, the government will build 24,538 houses in the rural areas of three districts.
Upazila Nirbahi Officers have selected 2 per cent khaas land of their respective upazila areas with a cost of 419.60 crore taka. Per house will cost 1.79 lakh taka.
According to the proposal, the Disaster Management Division will build 20,373 houses with a cost of 338.37 crore taka under the housing programme in Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna. Besides, the land ministry will also construct 14,892 houses under Guchchhogram Second Phase Project with a cost 258.65 crore taka.
Project director Md Mahabub Hasan told The Business Post the construction of the houses in three districts will start after receiving money from the ministry concerned.
He said the Upazila Nirbahi Officers have already selected poor people and khaas land in their areas.
Before Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief took initiative with a view to building 68,000 residences involving at 2,067 crore taka for the ultra-poor people across the country marking the upcoming Mujib’s centenary.
ask/wi
