Houses on their own land for freedom fighters: second phase from next year, minister tells parliament

The government will start the second phase of its housing project next year, building houses on land owned by genuine freedom fighters. Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan gave the information in the Jatiya Sangsad (national parliament).

The minister spoke on Wednesday (11 November) during the question-and-answer session of parliament, in reply to a written question from MP Md Kamrul Hasan. Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal presided over the session.

The minister said a list is being prepared of freedom fighters who own their own land, so that housing benefits reach genuine beneficiaries transparently and free of corruption. Preparing the list of genuine freedom fighters is now under way as part of the groundwork for the second phase, and if all goes well, work on this phase can begin next year.

Ahmed Azam Khan said the government has already suspended the first phase of the housing project after widespread allegations of corruption in its implementation.

Pointing to the limitations of the earlier phase, the minister said complications over land ownership had deprived many eligible freedom fighters of housing benefits. To avoid such problems, genuine freedom fighters with their own designated land are being verified and listed. This, he said, will make it possible to build houses on the right land and deliver government benefits to genuine beneficiaries.

In reply to another question, the minister said several hundred freedom fighter complexes across the country were damaged after 5 August. The ministry has received reports of these complexes being vandalised and damaged in other ways.

He said funds have already been allocated to repair many of the damaged complexes, but because of financial constraints the repair work is being done in phases.

The minister said the Fulbaria freedom fighter complex will receive the necessary allocation to be repaired and made usable quickly. At the same time, the ministry will take administrative measures to prevent antisocial activities at the complex and ensure its normal use.