How Ashrayan project helps attaining SDGs   | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
July 24, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025
How Ashrayan project helps attaining SDGs  

Bangladesh

Jahidul Islam
24 April, 2022, 11:00 pm
Last modified: 25 April, 2022, 11:53 am

Related News

  • Revisiting Ashrayan: A false promise to Bangladesh’s homeless?
  • PM intervenes to hear life story of a woman at Ashrayan house distribution event
  • A roof over their heads, but the fight continues: Ashrayan beneficiaries seek sustainable future
  • Ashrayan project: PM Hasina to provide free houses, lands to 18,566 families
  • 630 landless families to get govt houses in Gaibandha

How Ashrayan project helps attaining SDGs  

The PM’s housing project for the poor brings crucial socio-economic changes in rural Bangladesh  

Jahidul Islam
24 April, 2022, 11:00 pm
Last modified: 25 April, 2022, 11:53 am

With wife and three children, Bede community man Sohel Mia lives in a polythene-made tent by the road at a nondescript village in Kaliganj upazila. The gypsy family travel all around the country round the year. Sohel says he cannot admit his kids to school thanks to their lack of a permanent address.            

"If I had a permanent house, I would be travelling around leaving the family at home. My daughters then could have schooling and medical treatment when required," the man told The Business Standard.  

Like Sohel Mia, some 31 Bede families are now staying at the Kaliganj village. Their gypsy days are nearing an end as 59 homes are being built for them on a vast land by a water body under the Ashrayan-2 Project.      

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The project aiming at providing shelter to 50,000 families was taken up in 2014. At the first phase, half of the targeted people were handed over with land and houses. Though the project had been struggling with implementation initially, now Ashrayan-2 – which is supervised by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) while the houses are said to be a gift from the PM to the poor — is one of the fast-moving projects in the Annual Development Programme (ADP).     

Centring the Mujib Year celebration, the project beneficiaries were raised to 6 lakh families. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the number of homeless people in the country will come down to almost zero once the project is implemented.   

According to sources in the PMO, in the first phase on 23 January last year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over land and homes to 66,189 families across the country. On the same day, rehabilitation for 3,715 families in 743 barracks was also inaugurated.

On June 20 of the same year, land and new houses were given to another 53,340 families in the second phase. In the first two phases, more than 1.17 lakh families got houses. In the third phase, another 65,474 single houses are under construction.

Tofazzel Hossain Miah, senior secretary to the PMO, told The Business Standard that the dream of the premier is to improve the quality of life of the people. The housing project helps the country attain at least eight of the 17 goals of the sustainable development goal (SDG).

Cost escalation for stronger houses

The government increased Tk88,500 for per unit of house under the project and set it at Tk2.59 lakh, which was Tk1.71 lakh in the first phase.

Tofazzel Hossain Miah said the cost escalation is to enhance the strength and durability of the houses.

He told TBS that third phase houses would use the cement concrete base, while shelters in previous two phases were built on brick foundations.

In the third phase, homes for the poor are being constructed in Magura Sadar. Magura Upazila Nirhabi Officer Yasin Kabir said the houses are being built focusing on durability.  

Abu Saleh Mohammad Ferdous Khan, project director of Asrayan-2, said they have taken special measures to make the third phase houses more durable and strong.  

Portable homes for erosion-prone areas

For fishermen, portable homes are being built in river erosion-prone areas under the project. Such 5,078 housing units will cost Tk370 crore. Besides, there will be special houses for the ethnic people in the three districts of the Chattogram Hill Tracts.

Although people of small ethnic groups in the plains will get semi-pucca houses like other homeless people, 20 "tong ghars" will be built for the Rakhine community in Barguna.

Tofazzel Hossain Miah said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed them to build houses according to the needs of the beneficiaries.

"Many char areas erode and inundate during the monsoons. Portable houses are being built there to avert property damages," he added.

Floating Manta people get home

From birth to death, the landless Manta community used to spend their entire lives on water in Patuakhali's Rangabali upazila. Parents of the community would tie the babies to the bed of their boats so that the kids do not roll into water.  

The government has already provided houses to 29 of 96 Manta families who have been living in boats floating on River Rangabali since 1984. The PMO officials said the remaining families will be rehabilitated gradually.

Nayan Tara, 80, has been able to sleep in a house on the land for the first time since birth. The Manta woman said she had been on the boat since she was born.

"I have been at peace for a year now after getting home," she told TBS.

Her home has a power connection, energy-saving lights and a ceiling fan. "We don't have to pay any electricity bill," she said. However, Nayan Tara has installed a small solar panel recently with her own money.

Another Manta woman Julekha Begum got her house two months ago. She used to catch and sell fish with her husband while she used to live on the boat. Now she no longer goes fishing, as she wants to do household chores and educate her two daughters and one son.

Environment in focus  

Magura Upazila Nirhabi Officer Yasin Kabir said they have arranged mushroom cultivation training for the families to be rehabilitated under the housing project.

He said there are empty spaces next to each house, where it is possible to increase income through mushroom cultivation.

Meanwhile, Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sadia Jerin also said arrangements will be made for income generating works for the beneficiaries.

She said the housing site to rehabilitate the Bede community has already been brought under road communication. "A mosque and a park will be built there. There will also be arrangements for income generating work according to qualifications and skills of the people."

Tofazzel Hossain Miah said each housing unit will have empty space next to it. There will be arrangements for vegetable cultivation and poultry farming on the free space. Besides, various types of training and tree planting are being arranged with a special focus on the environment.

In a separate note, the PMO officials said 155 acres of public land worth around Tk3,000 crore has been reclaimed across the country so far while implementing the Ashrayan-2 Project.

Top News

Ashrayan Project / PM's Gift / Homes for the homeless

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • BB asks female staff to wear 'modest' attire, discourages short-sleeved or length dresses, leggings
    BB asks female staff to wear 'modest' attire, discourages short-sleeved or length dresses, leggings
  • Representational image. Photo: Collected
    US yet to confirm third-round talks as tariff deadline looms
  • Govt amends public service rules further, adding appeal rights, forced retirement
    Govt amends public service rules further, adding appeal rights, forced retirement

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Collected
    Bangladeshi man jailed for life in UK for murdering wife in front of their baby
  • Ctg port authority halts contractor recruitment for Kamalapur ICD operations for two months
    Ctg port authority halts contractor recruitment for Kamalapur ICD operations for two months
  • Fire at Cosmo School in Mirpur on 23 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Fire breaks out at Cosmo School in Mirpur following generator explosion
  • Representational image. File Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS
    Debate arises as edu adviser says postponed HSC exams of 22 and 24 July will be held on same day
  • The Government Seal of Bangladesh
    Govt mulls allowing trade unions with 20 workers, industry leaders warn of disorder
  • Photo: CA Press Wing
    Stronger stance needed on maintaining law and order: Political parties to CA

Related News

  • Revisiting Ashrayan: A false promise to Bangladesh’s homeless?
  • PM intervenes to hear life story of a woman at Ashrayan house distribution event
  • A roof over their heads, but the fight continues: Ashrayan beneficiaries seek sustainable future
  • Ashrayan project: PM Hasina to provide free houses, lands to 18,566 families
  • 630 landless families to get govt houses in Gaibandha

Features

Photo: Collected

24 July: More than 1400 arrested, 3 missing coordinators found

1d | Panorama
Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Aggrieved nation left with questions as citizens rally to help at burn institute

1d | Panorama
Photo: TBS

Mourning turns into outrage as Milestone students seek truth and justice

1d | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Uttara, Jatrabari, Savar and more: The killing fields that ran red with July martyrs’ blood

2d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

ISPR reports 31 dead, official tally 29

ISPR reports 31 dead, official tally 29

2h | TBS Today
13 political parties meet with chief advisor; urge to announce election date

13 political parties meet with chief advisor; urge to announce election date

2h | TBS Today
Bangladesh and Pakistan unite to fight drugs

Bangladesh and Pakistan unite to fight drugs

3h | TBS Today
Case Study of Milestone Tragedy

Case Study of Milestone Tragedy

4h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net