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.

The Daily Star has launched a new series of talk show ‘The Election Talks 2018’ where experts analyse all aspects of the upcoming general elections, contemporary politics, events and incidents.

In today’s episode chief editor of Ekushey TV Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul talks with the show host Journalist Golam Mortoza.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today directed the authorities concerned to curb food adulteration in Bangladesh, alongside creating awareness among businesspeople against such offences.

"You'll have to make them [unscrupulous businesspeople] understand the offenses and curb it [offences] with an iron hand. It's essential to take both measures simultaneously," she said.

The prime minister said this while addressing a programme held at InterContinental Dhaka, marking National Food Safety Day-2021. She joined the event virtually from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

This year, the day is being observed with the theme ''Tekshoi Unnayan -- Shomriddho Desh, Nirapod Khadyer Bangladesh".

Sheikh Hasina said unscrupulous businesspeople sell adulterated or substandard food items to earn extra money, harming public health. "They should realise that they can make the same profit by selling safe food," she said.

Mentioning that a central food testing laboratory is being set up in the country, the premier instructed the relevant authorities to take steps for setting up one food testing laboratory in every divisional city as well.

Laboratory testing certification is essential to export agricultural products -- most important for exporting food items -- the prime minister said, adding that there is a scope of setting up food-testing systems at the rural level.

Referring to the safe food plan being implemented in 100 food-related industries, Hasina asked the authorities concerned to execute it throughout the country gradually. "It'll have to be taken up to the village level," she said.