প্রকাশের তারিখ : ১৫ এপ্রিল ২০২৩

By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: Moksedul, a brick kiln labourer, was given birth to in someone else's house. His son, too, was welcomed in a house that did not belong to Moksedul. For 30 long years, Mokseful waited for a house that he can call his own. His long-desired wish has been fulfilled at last, after he has been allotted a semi-furnished house under his own name. All modern facilities, including electricity and drinking water, are available in the house. Moksedul is on cloud nine after receiving this gift from Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He said he can live very well with his family now.

Sixty-five-year-old Piara Begum is a resident of Patharghata in Barguna, the southernmost town of the country, built on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. Thirty years ago, her family was lost in the river. Afterwards, she would build a house on the bank of the river. After marriage, her husband did not have any property or house and the couple continued to live on the banks of the river. But 16 years ago, her husband died of cancer. As she had no children, Begum was left to her own devices.

Finally, Piara Begum's misery has come to an end after she is allotted a house built by the Bangladesh government on the occasion of ‘Mujib centenary’ under the ‘Ashrayan' scheme.

“I have been suffering all my life. I never dreamed of a house. Now, I have got a semi-furnished house with land. The prime minister has given me a house. I am very happy. As long as I live, I will pray for the prime minister,” she told India Today.

The story of Moksedul and Piara Begum finds resonance with lakhs of poor, landless, and homeless people in Bangladesh. Thousands have now found shelter and seen an end to their deprivation under Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s initiatives for inclusive development.