Most Ashrayan houses at Dimla remain locked 

NILPHAMARI, Aug 2: Around 90 of the 100 houses built under the government's Ashrayan-2 project in Dimla Upazila of Nilphamari remain vacant, prompting questions over the allocation of homes intended for landless and homeless families.

The housing project, located at the Swiss Gate settlement in South Jhunagachha under Jhunagachha Chapani Union, was constructed in the 2020-21 fiscal year. Each house, built at a cost of about Tk 2 lakh, was handed over with two decimals of land.

A recent visit found that most of the houses were locked and overgrown with bushes. Some occupied homes had vegetable gardens in their courtyards, while others had fenced off the premises with bamboo.

Residents also complained that the access road to the settlement, running along a river, has developed severe erosion, making travel difficult.

Tanjila Begum, one of the residents, said only about 10 families currently live in the settlement.

"The rest of the houses are vacant. Tube-wells and other items are often stolen, and we feel insecure because so few people live here," she said.

Local resident Mizanur Rahman alleged that many of the houses were allocated to relatives of local Awami League leaders instead of genuine landless families.

"Each house has two rooms, a kitchen, electricity and safe drinking water. Yet most remain empty while many deserving families never received an allocation," he claimed.

Dimla Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Imranuzzaman said the administration was verifying applications submitted by homeless families.
"Many shelterless people have applied to us. After verification, eligible applicants will be rehabilitated in the vacant Ashrayan houses," he said.