The Khurushkul Special Shelter Project is a hope for climate refugees. Spanning 253 acres, this ambitious project has rehabilitated 4,409 families in 139 five-story buildings. The construction, undertaken by the Bangladesh Army, was completed in 2023.
Each building has an open ground floor, with 32 flats on the upper four floors. These flats, measuring 456 square feet each, provide families with safe and dignified housing. Initially, 600 families were relocated, with the remaining enlisted families to follow in phases.
What makes this project truly unique is the naming of the buildings. They carry names inspired by nature and local heritage, such as Sampan, Keora, Rajanigandha, Gandharaj, Hasnahena, Kamini, Gulmohar, Golap, Sonali, Nilambori, Jhinuk, Coral, Mukta, Probal, Sopaan, Monkhali, Shonkhali, Dolonchapa, Inani, and Bakkhali.
The project explicitly targets families displaced by the catastrophic cyclone of 1991. Most beneficiaries hail from the Kutubdia Para and Samiti Para areas of Ward 1 in Cox’s Bazar municipality.
The Khurushkul Shelter Project is more than just a housing initiative; it symbolizes resilience and the commitment to protect those most vulnerable to climate disasters.
By Rajin Saleh
