Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today greeted Emmanuel Macron on his re-election as the President of the French Republic.

In a message to Macron, she said, "It is indeed an immense pleasure to convey my warmest congratulations on your victory in the recently held Presidential Elections."

"Your re-election manifests the trust and confidence of the great French people that are reposed in you and your initiatives and commitments to ensure their welfare and prosperity," the Bangladesh premier said, adding: "The election, as you said, was a referendum for the European Union, secularism, and fraternity."

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Sheikh Hasina told Macron that she firmly believes the French people have given him the mandate to carry on with his values and vision.

"I trust, under your able stewardship, France will continue to serve as an essential player on the global stage beyond its role within the European Union," she said.

The Bangladesh PM recalled the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and expressed commitments to deepen and strengthen cooperation in diverse areas of shared interest.

"We count on France being on our side in our efforts to enhance trade, connectivity, and security cooperation with the European Union," she said.

The prime minister added that she looks forward to working closely with him in advancing the countries' shared priorities of combating climate change, preventing violent extremism, promoting regular migration, and ensuring gender equality.

She fondly recalled her visit to France in November last year and expressed deep gratitude for extending the gracious hospitality to her and her delegation.

Sheikh Hasina renewed her invitation to the reelected President of France to Bangladesh at his early convenience.

"I take this opportunity to recall your promise to visit Bangladesh if re-elected. Our Hon'ble President and I look forward to receiving you and your lady wife in Dhaka at your earliest convenience," she wrote.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said that her government would ensure accommodation for all marking Mujib Borsho.

"We have set a target in Mujib Borsho that not a single person will remain without address or home. I will ensure an address for everyone,'' she said while giving away homes to 66,189 families alongside rehabilitating 3,715 others in the barracks under Ashrayan-2 Project.

Joining the programme virtually from her official residence Gono Bhaban in Dhaka, the Prime Minister asked all concerned, particularly the local administrations, to hand over ownerships of the houses to the beneficiaries.

She said that as many as 320,000 families had earlier been given homes while work on building one lakh more houses for the landless and homeless will start soon.

The Prime Minister said she was elated today as she managed to give a large number of houses to landless and homeless people during winter.

On the occasion, she said, "This is the largest celebration. There is no better way to celebrate than providing homes to landless and homeless people on such a large scale."

Sheikh Hasina said that the souls of her father (Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) and her mother and lakhs of martyrs who made supreme sacrifice for the country's Liberation War will rest in peace as such a huge number of people received their own homes.

Referring to giving homes to marginalised people such as dalit, harijan, transgender, tea workers and others, she said that her government has been working tirelessly to ensure improved lives for cross-section of people.

She said that they have also rehabilitated climate refugees with giving homes at Khuruskul in Cox's Bazar while 100 more buildings are being built for them.

She said Bangabandhu had a five-year plan to make Bangladesh a developed country, adding, "The people of Bangladesh could have had improved lives if Bangabandhu could have implemented it."

The Prime Minister later exchanged views with the beneficiaries, local Awami League leaders and public representatives who got connected to the programme from Kathaltala village of Atalia union under Dumuria upazila in Khulna district, Nizbari village of Kamarpukur union under Syedpur upazila in Nilphamari, Kartali village of Gazipur union under Chunarughat upazila in Habiganj, and Salla village of Baliadanga union under Sadar upazila in Chapainawabganj district.

A video documentary was screened on the government's effort to rehabilitate the landless and homeless people.

While exchanging greetings, Sheikh Hasina urged all to identify homeless and landless people in their respective localities as the government has a target to provide homes to everyone marking Mujib Borsho and the golden jubilee of the country's independence.

The government has built 66,189 houses at a cost of Taka 1,168 crore for homeless people on the occasion of Mujib Borsho. Each of the houses was built on two decimals of land having two rooms, one corridor and one latrine alongside connection of electricity and water.

The residents of the houses will be given necessary training to ensure their earnings and after completion of the training they will get a loan from the government.

Besides, the Ashrayan Project under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) rehabilitated 3,715 families by constructing 743 barracks under 44 project villages in 36 upazilas in 21 districts during Mujib Borsho.

The Ashrayan Project has prepared a list of 885,622 families in 2020, including 293,361 landless and homeless families, and 592,261 families having 1-10 decimal land but no housing facility.