Staff Correspondent

The Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) has planned to construct a 14-storey residential building for its employees at its own expense to address the long-standing housing crisis. The building will be constructed at the UGC residential complex in the capital's Mirpur-14 area.

The proposed building will have 52 flats. It will provide accommodation for 52 UGC employee families. The goal is to complete the construction of the building and make it habitable within the next two years.

Currently, there are 40 flats for employees in that residential area of Mirpur. It is expected that the new building will largely alleviate the housing crisis of UGC's third and fourth class employees. The building is planned to have 800 square feet of flats for third class employees and 600 square feet for fourth class employees. The building will also include modern amenities including a basement.

Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) will prepare the concept paper, detailed project proposal (DPP), architectural design and structural design of the project within the next six months. A memorandum of understanding was signed between UGC and DUET on Thursday for this purpose. After the approval of the DPP, the contractor for the construction of the building will be selected through open tender.

At the MoU signing ceremony, UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed said, "Ensuring housing facilities for officials and employees is one of the priorities of the commission.

He said that work is being taken forward with the aim of making the building habitable within the next two years.

DUET Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr. Mohammad Iqbal said that the university will work with utmost sincerity to properly fulfill the trust placed in it by the UGC by entrusting the project to DUET.

The meeting was informed that there is a plan to construct using the G-2G method. It will follow eco-friendly technology, energy-efficient design, and modern architectural style.

Leaders of the UGC Officers Association and Employees Union welcomed the initiative and said that it is an important step in resolving the long-standing housing crisis.

The project has already been included in the green light of the Planning Commission, said the sources.

UGC members Prof Dr. Machuma Habib and Prof Dr. Mohammad Ayub Islam, Secretary Dr. Md. Fakhrul Islam, Director of Planning and Development Department Mohammad Makshudur Rahman Bhuiyan, Director of General Services and Engineering Department Zafar Ahmed Jahangir, President of UGC Residential Area Welfare Committee Md. Shahin Siraj, General Secretary of UGC Officers Association Dr. Md. Mohibul Ahsan, General Secretary of Employees Union Md. Moktar Zaman Swadhin and concerned officials of UGC and DUET were present.