By Engr Mamun Islam
RANGPUR, Jan 24, 2021 (BSS) – Happiness of homeless families knows no bounds after getting 9,431 new houses as a gift from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the Mujib Year under the first phase of Asrayan-2 Project in Rangpur division.
Talking to BSS, a number of ‘ka’ category beneficiary families who got new houses with land ownership documents yesterday expressed genuine happiness with emotional feelings and love to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Day-labourer Mubarak Hossain, 60, and his wife Bulbuli Begum, 50, who got a new house at Faridabad Asrayan-2 Project village in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur, said they never thought that fortune would smile on them anymore.
“We had no land and house – we passed a miserable life with our children by working as day-labourers,” Mubarak said and thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for bringing a new life to them.
Mai Begum, 65, a beggar of village Faridabad Khanbari in the same upazila, said she led a wretched life since her father and mother, who were also beggars, died three decades ago.
“I slept hither and thither after begging all day,” she said, adding that her happiness knows no bounds after getting a house at Faridabad Asrayan-2 Project village from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday.
Shudhir Chandra, 60, a farm-labourer of village Dakshin Damodarpur in the same upazila said “I spent hard days with my wife Dipali Rani, 45, daughters Chamtola, 12, and Sumitra, 9. We are now enormously happy after getting a new house.”
Widow Hazera Begum, 60, of village Amjhol in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat said she had no house to sleep and everything changed monetarily after getting a new house from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Beneficiaries Shudhangshu, 62, of Amarkhana union in Panchagarh Sadar upazila expressed happiness with emotion after getting a new house from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and hoped to live in peace through rebuilding his life anew.
Jagen Paul, 68, a potter of village Paul Para in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila said he lived in the houses of others with his wife and two daughters and lost all hopes even after somehow marrying off his daughters.
“I forgot all my suffering after getting a house from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who has fulfilled my last hopes in life,” said a happy Jagen, adding that he will live in the new house with his wife.
The beneficiaries prayed for a long life, sound health and continuous success of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in serving the nation to build a developed ‘Sonar Bangla’ and realise the dream of Bangabandhu.
Talking to BSS, Divisional Commissioner Md. Abdul Wahhab Bhuiyan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over 9,431 new houses with land ownership documents through a videoconferencing to homeless families on Saturday in the division.
The government is constructing 13,110 brick-built houses in two phases under Asrayan-2 Project at a cost of over Taka 240 crore spending Taka 1.71 lakh for each house in Rangpur division.
“On completion of construction of 9,431 houses in the first phase, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over those to selected 9,431 ‘ka’ category homeless families of the division on Saturday,” he said.
Besides, construction of other 3,679 houses in the second phase of Asrayan-2 Project is expected to complete within the next couple of weeks for handing over to another 3,679 homeless families next month across the division.
“Asrayan Project, one of the Prime Minister’s 10 special initiatives, aims at ensuring shelter for all homeless people to help them rebuild life, improve living standard and health care and skill development on income generating activities,” he added.