600 families to get homes in ‘Sheikh Hasina Ashrayan Project’

More than 50 development projects are now ongoing in Cox's Bazar including one of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 10 priority ones.

And in the first phase of "Sheikh Hasina Ashrayan (Providing Home) Project", the construction of 19 five-storied buildings has been completed.

Many people will need rehabilitation because of the expansion of Cox's Bazar airport. The affected ones of the area will be rehabilitated under "Khurushkul Ashrayan Project" – locally known as "Sheikh Hasina Ashrayan Project."

However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the flat handover ceremony on July 23. The homeless and landless people will get the keys to their flats after that.

Ashraful Afsar, additional deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar district, said all the preparations for inauguration have already been made to this end.

"The district administration finalised the list of beneficiaries through verification, following the one provided by public representatives and local political leaders."

"To officially hand over the flats to the homeless families, a lottery draw was held on July 14 under the leadership of Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Kamal Hossain. The flats will be distributed among 600 families based on the results of the lottery," Ashraful Afsar said.

The Cox's Bazar airport is being upgraded to the international standard considering its geographical significance and to develop a world-class tourism industry, district administration sources said.

During the Cox's Bazar airport expansion, 4,409 families became homeless. These families were planned to be shifted to Khurushkul near the Bakkhali river in Cox's Bazar Sadar upazila. 

To rehabilitate these affected people, the government provided 253.35 acres of land and decided to build 139 multi-storied buildings there.

Bangladesh Army took over the responsibility of implementing the project in May 2017. 

The project will also include schools, community clinics, and parks for the socio-economic development of the families living there, the project implementation authority said.

People who became homeless because of the expansion of the Cox's airport will get priority there, Ashraful Afsar said.

As part of the project, the government will also develop a modern and distinctive dry fish market in the area. 

Apart from getting shelter, the homeless fishermen will have the opportunity to pursue their business in the dry fish market.

The homeless and landless people said, "Even though we have got a permanent address, we are still uncertain about employment." 

They demanded that employment opportunities are created in the project area through modern training.

Kamal Hossain said when all the facilities will be available in the project area there will be no shortage of employment for the people living there.

"I have also talked with the higher authorities about this."