Staff Reporter:
The World Habitat Day-2024 will be observed today in the country as elsewhere in the world in a bid to raise awareness among people for safe and habitable abode for all.
The United Nations designated the first Monday of October every year as the World Habitat Day to re-flect on the state of towns and cities.
The Day is also intended to remind the world that all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of their cities and towns.
This year’s theme of day is ‘Engaging youth to create a better urban future’.
On the eve of the day President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus have given separate messages wishing all success of the day.
The President in his message said, environment-friendly urbanization and housing systems are prerequi-sites for sustainable development.
The country’s constitution has acknowledged the housing as basic rights of people, and adopted as one of the basic principle of governance.
In the light of this principle, the government is preparing and implementing contemporary plans to en-sure safe and affordable housing and adequate access to basic services for the underprivileged, the head of the state said.
Keeping in mind the growing population of Bangladesh, people of all classes should be urbanized with facilities for education, treatment, employment, transportation and pure entertainment, he said.
The president hoped young generations would play an important role to introduce inclusive and safe housing and developed urban system for all.
Noting that planned urbanization is one of the drivers of achieving economic growth, he said all includ-ing public-private partners, civil society and the young generation must take joint initiative to build a safe, livable, modern and sustainable city for the next generation.
He hoped that fearless, honest and sincere involvement of the young generation will accelerate this work manifold.
Chief Adviser (CA) Professor Muhammad Yunus in his message hoped that the technical knowledge, excellence and initiative of the youth and knowledge of the elders will contribute significantly in build-ing developed and safe cities in the country.
“Youth force symbolizes strength, courage and change. Interim government accession to power follow-ing student-led mass upsurge manifested that none can suppress the youth,” Dr Yunus said.
The goal of the student-led mass movement was to build a welfare based democratic Bangladesh, com-pletely free from all discrimination and exploitation, he added.
“Yesterday’s youth are more modern, technology-savvy,” he said.
Wishing success of the ‘World Habitat Day-2024, the chief adviser said, he believed that the indomitable talent, hard work, devotion and honesty of the youth will shine a new light in realizing the dream of establishing a discrimination free Bangladesh.
On the day, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works will organize a discussion at 9 am today at Raj-dhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) Auditorium.
Industries and Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan will be present as the main dis-cussant in the event.
Besides, Adviser for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan and the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Ms. Gwyn Lewis will present as special guests.
Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Md Hamidur Rahman Khan will preside over the function.
