Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the distribution of 53,340 more houses for the landless and homeless families as part of her government’s campaign to bring all landless and homeless families under the housing scheme.

The premier inaugurated the distribution of the houses virtually around 11:15 am on Sunday (June 20) under the second phase of the Asrayan-2 project. She joined the function from her official residence Ganabhaban.

Earlier, the Prime Minister handed over 69,904 houses to the homeless and landless families on January 23 under the first phase of the project on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Under the scheme, joint ownership of two-decimal house land alongside a modern abode will also be given to both husband and wife of each family.

Besides, 100,000 more houses will be given by December next as part of the government’s move to rehabilitate the country’s homeless people.

It is learnt that each family is getting the assets worth some Taka 2.6 lakh, if the value of two-decimal land is on an average Taka 50,000. The construction cost of every house is nearly Taka 2 lakh, while the cost of utility connectivity (electricity and gas) is some Taka 10,000.

According to the lists prepared under the Ashrayan project, the number of homeless and landless families (under class-K) is 293,361 in the country, while that of only homeless families (under class-Kha) is 592,261.