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.

President of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury today said he will retire from politics happily when his activities will harm people. 

He made the remark reacting to Finance Minister AMA Muhith's suggestion to him to retire from politics. 

In a statement, B Chowdhury said, "I've seen (in newspapers) the finance minister's comment suggesting me to take a decision for retirement. The finance minister and the education minister are both virtuous persons, and I have respect to this end. I don't have any personal reservation against them." 

He, however, said it is not his mistake to criticise the two ministers’ political and administrative activities. 

Mentioning that Muhith advised him to retire as he is also going on retirement, the BDB chief said, "My position is very clear about it that the day I'll see my statements and activities harm people, on that very day I'll retire happily without any hesitation." 

B Chowdhury also reminded that he has the habit of resigning on the question of morality. 

Hinting at B Chowdhury at a programme in the city on Saturday, Muhith said when people reach a certain stage of life, it is wise for them to go on retirement. 

Earlier on Friday, the BDB chief harshly criticised the finance minister for his failure to check scams in the banking sector and Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid for repeated incidents of question paper leakage.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon all, including the leaders and activists of Awami League and its associate bodies, to plant at least three saplings to make Bangladesh a much greener country.

The Prime Minister made the call while inaugurating Bangladesh Krishok League's three-month-long tree plantation campaign at her official residence Gono Bhaban.

The government wants to ensure overall economic development of the country while protecting its environment and surroundings, Hasina said.

Hoping to see a livelier and much better environment in the country, she mentioned that the government is implementing various programmes to this end.

The Prime Minister said forestation in Bangladesh has gone up to 22 percent from a mere 7 percent due to massive afforestation across the country under her governance.

Hasina said such steps will help improve the country's environment. Alongside expanding afforestation, this is how Bangladesh will be able to set an example in the world.

About the plantation campaign, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh Awami League decided in 1983 to observe countrywide tree plantation campaigns on the 1st day of Asharh every year before proceeding with afforestation programmes.

She requested the leaders, workers, and well-wishers of Awami League and its associate bodies as well as those who believe in Bangabandhu's ideology to plant at least one fruit, one wood, and one medicinal sapling.