Staff Correspondent

The Ministry of Housing and Public Works has taken the initiative to take up housing projects for the low-income people, specially for the slum dwellers, in various cities across the country, including the capital Dhaka.

A meeting was held in the conference room of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works at the Secretariat on Monday with Public Works Minister war wounded freedom fighter RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury.

Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Nabirul Islam, Additional Secretary, Chairman of National Housing Authority. Mostafizur Rahman, Chairman of RAJUK Major General (Retd) Siddiqur Rahman and concerned senior officers were present.

In accordance with the instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Minister of Public Works directed to prepare the necessary project proposal for the construction of rental-based flats for low-income people and send it to the ministry as soon as possible. In the implementation of the project, he suggested environmental protection, necessary afforestation, preservation of open space, setting up of playgrounds, sewage treatment plants, maximum use of solar energy, use of eco-friendly block bricks instead of terracotta bricks, arrangement of rainwater harvesting, maximum use of surface water.

Initially, he asked to implement the proposal of construction of 12 thousand 600 flats in 100 multi-storied buildings in three phases in Dattapara of Tongir under the National Housing Authority as soon as possible. Feasibility study of this project has already been completed. In the first phase of the project, 2 thousand 142 residential flats will be constructed in 17 15-storey buildings. The proposal for construction of 5 thousand 922 flats in 47 buildings in the 2nd phase and 5 thousand 436 flats in 36 buildings in the third phase is under process.

The minister directed Rajuk and Public Works Department to take up projects for construction of flats for low income people through separate projects in Karail slums and T&T Colony slums of the capital. Gave verbal instructions to the Chief Architect to take necessary measures to prepare a uniform design for these flats of 750 square feet gross area.

Apart from the capital Dhaka, such projects will also be taken up in other cities of the country in a phased manner in view of the need.

It should be noted that 10 acres of land has been earmarked for the housing of low-income people in the Uttara Housing Project (Phase III) under implementation by the RAJUK.

The minister directed to prepare a project proposal for the construction of flats for the housing of low-income people on the said land as soon as possible. He said that in addition to own financing for the implementation of the project, financing from various development aid organizations will also be accepted if possible.

It was informed in the meeting that the National Housing Authority of Mirpur in the capital has already constructed 533 rental flats for the slum dwellers. They are living comfortably in these flats. Apart from this, the landless slum dwellers of the district have been rehabilitated through the project titled "Improved Living System of Low Income People" in Kobdas Para of Sirajganj.

The minister suggested to use the experience of these projects in taking up the next project. Along with that, he suggested for positive publicity about these philanthropic activities of the government.