Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government is working to establish a rail network across the country for providing transportation to people and goods at a cheaper rate.

"There will be a rail line from Dhaka to Chattogram, Chattogram to Cox's Bazar and Ghundum. We'll build the Railways stronger and we have plans," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while laying the foundation stone of the 4.8km long double-line dual-gauge Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge over the river Jamuna-- aimed at increasing the rail communication between the capital and Western zone of the Railway.

She said that the government will set up a rail line from Dhaka to Payra Port via Barishal and Patuakhali.

"We'll start a feasibility study, we've taken initiative in that regard," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said that after assuming power, the government has done a massive expansion in the railway sector through various steps including procuring new locomotives and compartments.

"Now, Railways are giving service to the people, contributing especially in carrying goods. Above all, during the COVID-19, Railways is giving the highest service to the people," she said.

Recalling the suicidal decision of the BNP government to strangle the railway sector, the Prime Minister said that the government again revived the sector through various time-befitting decisions.

She said that the government is developing and modernising the communication network of the whole country apart from diversifying it so that it could contribute a lot in enhancing the socio-economic condition of the people.

She mentioned that the government is implementing various massive programmes for the overall development of water, rail and airways.

Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan, Ambassador of Japan Ito Naoki and Railways secretary Md Selim Reza also spoke at the programme.

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.