Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has handed over 53,340 more houses to the landless and homeless people, reiterating her pledge to give shelter to everyone.

She said, "Our target is to ensure a shelter to every person as none in any area of the country will remain landless, homeless and shelterless." The premier inaugurated the distribution of homes on two decimals of land free of cost under the second phase of the Asrayan-2 project on virtual platform joining from her official residence- Ganabhaban in the capital on Sunday.

Sheikh Hasina stated that the government has been giving houses not only under the Ashrayan project, but also under various programmes of the ministries. The PM went on to say, "Life of the person, who is living beside the roads, footpaths, rail lines defying the rain and storm, will change if he gets a house and there is no more big happiness than getting a house to him and it brings a smile usually on his face." The head of the government said that they had earlier on January 23 last given around 70,000 houses to the landless and homeless people in the first phase of the Ashrayan project and this time 53,340 more people have got home under the project.  

She recalled that since assuming office in 1996, her government has given so far 4,42,608 houses to the homeless.

The Prime Minister said that the people of various quarters particularly the government officials and business people have got inspired with the government Ashrayan project and extended their helping hands to this endeavour.

She said it's a matter of joy that the spirit of providing houses to homeless has arisen among the people of the country.

She said the interest of giving houses to the people has once again proved that "human beings are meant for human beings."

Yesterday, the highest 12,436 houses were given in Rangpur division, while 10,547 in Chattogram, 7,630 in Dhaka, 7,172 in Rajshahi, 7,153 in Barishal, 911 in Khulna, 2512 in Mymensingh and 1979 in Sylhet division.

According to the lists prepared under the Ashrayan project, the number of homeless and landless families (under class-K) is 293,361 in the country, while the number of only homeless families (under class-Kha) is 592,261.

A theme song on the Ashrayan project was played at the house distribution ceremony.

 Later, the premier exchanged views with the beneficiaries of the housing scheme who were connected from different parts of the country.
 
Mentioning that Bangladesh is a land of natural calamities - cyclone, tidal surge, river erosion and flood, Sheikh Hasina said her government has been providing houses to the people who are falling victims to such natural calamities.  
 
She said the government had made shelters for 4,000 people of the Cox's Bazar who lost houses in 1991 cyclone.
 
The Prime Minister called upon all the countrymen to find out homeless and landless people around them and inform the government of the matter to help them get houses from the Ashrayan project.
 
She said the slum dwellers have been living in the most unhygienic condition, adding that  the government has initiated a project to construct multi-storey buildings to facilitate them to live in a flat in healthy condition paying the same what they are currently giving as rent for shanties.    
 
The premier said, "We're working to improve life of the hardcore poor to include them in the mainstream of society."     

The main purpose of the country's economic policy is to supply necessary money to the grassroots people at the villages and arrange livelihoods for their overall development, she added.
 
Sheikh Hasina further said that her government has been trying to improve the life and livelihood of the grassroots people with limited resources as it is the Awai League's policy and they are to do so.
 
On account of the government's efforts, she said, the lower income group people are gradually learning to stand on their own feet.