RAJSHAHI,  – Around 47,000 homeless families were rehabilitated with providing the inhabitants various need-based supports like housing,
arranging employment and technical knowledge in Rajshahi division during last ten years, an official said.

“We have established 2,046 barracks under 286 ashrayan projects implemented on 962.48 acres of land rehabilitating a total of 17,825 underprivileged families,” said Nur-Ur-Rahman, Commissioner of Rajshahi division.

Around 29,132 homeless families were also rehabilitated under Guchhagram and Taka one lakh house building programmes, he said.

Upazila level government departments are implementing various time-fitting programmes for improving living and livelihood condition of the rehabilitated families, he added.

Rabbi Islam, 18, an inhabitant of Gopalpur Ashrayan Project under Godagari Upazila in the district, has appeared in HSC examination this year.

Rabbi’s family had no place of taking shelter when their dwelling house had been devoured by the river Padma around ten years back. After getting the home now he’s dreaming of becoming a teacher after completing his graduation degree.

A total of 134 distressed and homeless families have got their identity in the ashrayan project. They were imparted training on various income-
generation activities like agriculture, poultry, goat rearing and beef fattening.

“Each of the trained families was given highest Taka 25,000 as loan,” said Raisul Islam, Upazila Rural Development Officer, adding that the families
have found the path of attaining economic emancipation through the money- making works.

Mushkan, 12, daughter of Sunil Kumar, an inhabitant of Kandra Ashrayan Project under Puthiya Upazila, is now a student of class six after getting
scholarship in general grade in class five. Expressing his deep gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the shelter, Sunil said the benevolent
initiative would contribute a lot to education expansion among girls coming from the marginalized families.

Tahera Begum, 55, a widow, is happy with her own income. Now, she runs her family by selling own cow’s milk.

“After my husband’s death around 10 years back, I used to beg. I had to pass night on footpath or railway platform as I had no house to live,” said
Tahera in a chocked voice.

At present, a room in Haragram Ashrayan Project in the city has ensured my happy life, she said. Monwar Hossain, 38, a farmer of Jhikra Thakurjhi Ashrayan Project in Bagmara Upazila, said he along with other marginal people is farming fish and vegetables on a cooperative basis.

Hossain said there are four ponds in the project where fish is being cultivated under cooperative system. The poor and destitute people are happy
getting shelter there, he added.

Zakia Begum, a housewife in the same area, said they have vegetables and poultry farming around their houses. She also said pure drinking water is
also made available there for 50 households in the project area.

Jahanara Begum, another housewife, said she and her family members used to live on the bank of a river before getting house in the project area.

“Now the government has given us a shelter. We are cultivating vegetables as well as rearing poultry. Our children can continue their studies at home
without any hassle as electricity is available here. May Allah bless Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government,” she said in an emotional voice.