Continuity of govt a must for dev: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the continuity of the government is essential to maintain the continuity of the country's development activities.

"For the continuity of development, the continuity of government is very much essential... we've been able to carry out development works in an appropriate manner as we have been in power since 2008," she said.

The prime minister said this while laying the foundation stones of two projects -- one for constructing 10,000 rental-based flats for slum dwellers in city's Mirpur, and another for constructing 253 residential flats on abandoned plots in city's Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur areas -- through a videoconference from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

National Housing Authority (NHA) will implement the first phase of the project titled, "Rental-based residential flat project for the slum dwellers", with an estimated cost of Tk 111 crore from the NHA's own fund.

In the first phase, some 533 flats will be built in five 14-storey buildings. In the 2nd phase, some 9,467 flats will be built in some 80 buildings (14-storey).

About the allocation of flats, the NHA will make the list of the area-wise slum families and allocate the flats on a priority basis.

The NHA will also construct some 253 flats on 2.07 acres of land at Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur with an estimated cost of Tk 373 crore, also from its own fund.

Of the flats, 202 will be sold among the government officials and common people while the remaining 51 will be reserved for the NHA.

Sheikh Hasina also exchanged views with the future beneficiaries of the two projects through videoconference.

Hasina also renewed her pledge to ensure housing for all, saying that no one will remain homeless in the country. 

Regarding waterlogging problem, she said this problem has been created due to filling up of ponds, canals and other water bodies.