|
|
Brief History
|
Introduction:
Housing could be generally termed as a habitable
shelter but its meaning stretches far from merely a shelter.
It is the total living environment including dwelling units,
land, the neighborhood services and utilities needed for the
well being of its inhabitants. Housing is one of the basic
beings, which provides security, and
sense of belonging to the owner. The pre-requisite for health
and comfort is proper housing.
Bangladesh, like many other developing countries
face an acute shortage of affordable housing both in the urban
and rural areas. The housing shortage was estimated in 1991
to be 3.10 million units out of which 2015 million units in
rural areas and 0.95 million units in urban areas. The shortage
was projected to be 5.0 million by the end of the year 2000.
The government is fully aware of the problem and various steps
are being undertaken to counter it.
The National Housing authority has been the
principal public sector agency engaged in solving the enormous
housing problem of the country, particularly for the poor,
the low and the middle-income group of people.
|
Background
of Establishment of the National Housing Authority (NHA):
The end of the British rule and the partition of the subcontinent
resulted in migration of million of Muslim refugees flocked
into the four main cities of Bangladesh and started living
on vacant government lands in these cities. They erected makeshift
houses creating unplanned and unhygienic condition. The influx
of these refugees also produced tremendous strain on the existing
services and infrastructures. In view of these situation the
then government created housing wing under the Works, Power
and Irrigation Ministry in 1958.
The government undertook housing programs throughout the country
in order to rehabilitate the refugees and the local low and
middle-income families in an organized way. The “housing
wing” was upgraded to the present Housing and Settlement
Directorate in 1971 after successful completion of the refugee
rehabilitation program. To ascertain shelter for all by 2000
the Democratic government now formulating National Housing
policy 2004, considering the present need of the country.
In the light of the National Housing policy, the national
Assembly has adopted and approved the National Housing Authority
(NHA) Act. 2000. in accordance with the act, Housing and settlement
direction (HSD) and deputy Commissioner Settlement (DCS) office
have been abolished and a new organization NHA has been formed
by merging these two organization. The National Housing authority
Act 2000 has been implemented on the 15th July, 2001 through
the government notification. |
Post
liberation housing situation:
The liberation of Bangladesh brought about an influx of rural
population to the urban areas, Bangladesh has an agriculture-based
economy and most of its rural population is dependent on agriculture.
There is a huge surplus of labor in the rural areas as only
farming cannot support all the rural population. As a result,
they remain unemployed or under employed for most of the year.
These population along with the millions affected and uprooted
by the war of 1971 migrated to the cities in search of jobs
and better life. Most of them started squatting on the government
owned vacant land like the road reserve; railway stations
sides of railway tracks, launch terminals and market places.
These poor people lived in appalling conditions, totally unfit
for human habitation without the presence of any sanitary
or utility facilities. As a result, an unhealthy condition
was created causing serious threat to the public health and
the overall environment of these cities.
The housing and Settlement
Directorate implemented housing projects to rehabilitate the
low income and to provide housing for the middle income people
including the refugees during the pre-liberation era. during
the pre-liberation era, HSD took in various housing projects
including sites and services and squatter resettlement projects.
They were implemented in various urban centers of Dhaka, Chittagong,
Rajshahi, Khulna and the districts HQ's.
|
|
|
