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 the NHA Establishment
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.
