Ecnec okays Tk 4,123cr project to build homes for insolvent freedom fighters – The Daily Star

The government today approved a Tk 4,123 crore project for constructing 30,000 homes for insolvent valiant freedom fighters and family members of the martyred in a bid to uplift their socioeconomic condition.

The approval came from a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) today with its chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The premier chaired the meeting from her official residence Gono Bhaban while ministers, state ministers and secretaries concerned joined the meeting from the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

Of the six projects approved today, three are new while three others are revised ones.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Division Secretary Mohammad Jainul Bari said that the meeting approved a total of six projects involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 5,619.46 crore.

"Of the total project cost, Tk 5,519.87 crore will come from the government of Bangladesh, Tk 42.07 crore from the concerned organisation's own fund while the rest Tk 57.52 crore as project assistance," he added.

According to the Planning Commission, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs alongside the concerned Deputy Commissioner (DC) offices and the UNO offices will implement the housing project for freedom fighters.

With the title "Bir Nibash", the homes will be constructed in 64 districts of eight divisions including in upazilas and cities as a gift from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of the country's independence.

Once implemented, the project will help uplift the social status and improve economic condition of the insolvent freedom fighters, Birangonas, and widows and children of the martyred and late freedom fighters.

Answering a question, Planning Commission member Mamun Al Rashid said that the government earlier had planned to build homes for 14,000 valiant freedom fighters in distress under a proposal.

But, now it has decided to construct homes for 30,000 insolvent war heroes under the project, he added.

Mamun said that most of the houses would be built on the freedom fighters' own land. But, if the freedom fighters do not have land of their own, then the concerned district and upazila administrations would arrange khas land for building such homes.

Mamun informed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the meeting asked the authorities concerned to start the operations of this project within this fiscal year (FY21) so that the overall allocations against this project could be disbursed in four fiscal years as it is now scheduled for completion in October 2023.

Asked about the directives from the premier, Planning Secretary Jainul Bari said that the premier once again asked the concerned officials for completing development projects within the stipulated timeframe maintaining due quality of works.

See the original post:

Ecnec okays Tk 4,123cr project to build homes for insolvent freedom fighters - The Daily Star