BD Plans 100,000 Affordable Flats for Low-Income Families, Announces Major Social Welfare

The government has announced plans to construct 100,000 affordable apartments for low-income families through a public-private partnership (PPP) across 58 locations, including the Korail slum in the capital. The announcement was made by Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher during a parliamentary session on Sunday.

Responding to a question from independent lawmaker Rumin Farhana, the minister said the sites had been identified in accordance with the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) prepared by the Capital Development Authority (RAJUK).

Taher said the National Housing Authority is also preparing a housing project on 98 acres of land in Dattapara, Tongi, Gazipur, along with initiatives to improve housing conditions in 37 slums located in Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Barishal, Khulna, Kushtia, Mymensingh, Narayanganj City Corporation, and several municipalities across the country.

In addition, the government plans to implement rental-based and affordable housing projects on land owned by the Chattogram, Rajshahi, and Khulna development authorities.

Government to Amend Parents' Maintenance Law
During the same parliamentary session, Social Welfare Minister Abu Jafar Md. Zahid Hossain said the government would amend the Parents' Maintenance Act, 2013, including provisions related to imprisonment and fines, following consultations with relevant stakeholders.

Government Moves to Eliminate Irregularities in Social Safety Net Programmes
Answering a question from Naogaon-3 MP Fazle Huda, the Social Welfare Minister acknowledged allegations of political favoritism and irregularities in the distribution of social safety allowances in previous years.

He said the government has launched a nationwide verification drive to identify genuine beneficiaries and remove fraudulent recipients from the database. A review committee was formed on April 19 to oversee the re-verification process.

Proposal to Increase Social Welfare Allowances
Responding to a question from Feni-2 MP Zainal Abdin, the minister said Bangladesh's elderly population continues to grow, prompting the government to propose an increase in the monthly old-age allowance.

During the 2025–26 fiscal year, around 6.1 million beneficiaries are receiving Tk 650 per month under a programme with a total allocation of Tk 47.91 billion. For the 2026–27 fiscal year, the government has proposed increasing the allowance to Tk 700 per month for 6.2 million beneficiaries, with a total allocation of Tk 52.39 billion.

The minister also announced a proposal to raise monthly allowances for 3 million widows and destitute women to Tk 700 in the next fiscal year.

Additionally, disability allowances are proposed to increase from Tk 900 to Tk 1,000 per month, with 3.8 million beneficiaries expected to receive support under a budget allocation of Tk 45.87 billion.

Responding to a question from independent MP Mohammad Salman Omar, the minister said the government has already distributed benefits through Family Cards registered in the names of female heads of households to 69,387 women in 55 upazilas across 44 districts under a pilot programme implemented in three phases.

Rooppur Nuclear Plant to Supply Power to National Grid by August
In another major announcement, Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam said Bangladesh's first nuclear power facility, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, has entered the commissioning and start-up phase, the final and most technically complex stage before commercial electricity generation.

Replying to a question from Jamalpur-3 MP Mostafizur Rahman Babul, the minister said the plant is expected to begin supplying approximately 300 megawatts of electricity to the national grid by the end of August.

He described the milestone as the beginning of a new chapter for Bangladesh's energy sector, saying the addition of nuclear-generated electricity will strengthen the country's energy security, support a more reliable power supply, and expand the use of clean energy.