Govt plans to construct 1 lakh affordable flats for low-income people

The government has planned to construct 100,000 affordable flats for low-income people through public-private partnerships (PPP) in 58 area, including Korail slum in the capital, said Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher in the Parliament on Sunday.

Replying to a question from Independent MP Rumeen Farhana (Brahmanbaria-2), the minister said the sites have been identified under the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) 2022 “2035 prepared by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (RAJUK) to ensure affordable housing for low-income groups.

Taher said the government has also initiated a project to build residential flats in phases for limited-income families on 98 acres of land owned by the National Housing Authority at Dattapara in Tongi, Gazipur.

He said another initiative has been undertaken with financial support from development partners to improve housing condition for low-income residents living in 37 slums across Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Barishal, Khulna, Kushtia, Mymensingh and Narayanganj City Corporation areas, along with several municipalities.

The minister said Rajshahi Development Authority has taken an initiative to construct 16 flats on Plot No. 578 in the Padma Residential Area for low-income families.

In Khulna, Khulna Development Authority is planning a residential flat project on around eight acres of land in Harintana Mouza for people with limited incomes, he added.

Taher also informed the House that a proposal is under consideration to develop rental housing for low-income residents on about 83 kathas of land owned by Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) in Saltgola area.

The project is proposed to be implemented either through self-financing or under a public-private partnership.

Meanwhile, replying to a question from Jamaat MP Nazmun Nahar from the reserved women’s seat, Social Welfare Minister Abu Jafar Md Jahid Hossain said the government would amend the Parents Maintenance Act, 2013 after consulting stakeholders.

The amendment will address provisions relating to imprisonment, fines and other penalties.

Responding to a question from MP Fazle Huda (Naogaon-3) over allegations of political considerations and irregularities in the distribution of social safety net allowances in previous years the minister said the ministry has launched a nationwide verification drive to identify genuine beneficiaries and remove ineligible recipients.

A re-verification committee was formed on April 19 under the Cabinet Division to review beneficiary lists.

Answering a question from MP Zainal Abdin (Feni-2), Jahid Hossain said the old-age allowance will be increased from Tk 650 to Tk 700 per month in the proposed 2026-27 fiscal year. The number of beneficiaries will rise from 6.1 million to 6.2 million, with a proposed allocation of Tk 52.39 billion, up from Tk 47.91 billion in the current fiscal year.

He also said the government has proposed increasing the monthly widow and destitute women’s allowance from Tk 650 to Tk 700 for 3 million beneficiaries in the next fiscal year, with an allocation of Tk 25.35 billion.

The disability allowance has also been proposed to increase from Tk 900 to Tk 1,000 per month for 3.8 million beneficiaries, with a total allocation of Tk 45.87 billion.

Replying to a question from Independent MP Mohammad Salman Omar, the minister said 69,387 women heads of households have so far received benefits under the “Family Card” allowance programme through 56 pilot units in 55 upazilas across 44 districts.

He added that field-level data are being updated regularly and the number of beneficiaries is expected to increase further.

Separately, Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam told Parliament that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has entered its commissioning and start-up phase, the final and most complex stage before commercial power generation.

Responding to a question from MP Mostafizur Rahman Babul (Jamalpur-3), he expressed hope that around 300 megawatts of electricity from the country’s first nuclear power plant would be supplied to the national grid by the end of August.

He described the milestone as a major step for Bangladesh’s energy sector, saying it would mark the first time nuclear-generated electricity is connected to the national grid, strengthening the country’s energy security, ensuring more reliable electricity supply and expanding the use of clean energy.