19. The Commission is highly appreciative of the Asryan project initiated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to implement the policy, “Not a single person will remain homeless or landless in Bangladesh”. The project, by affording free housing, aims to bring the backward communities of the country into the mainstream. By the end of the 2021-2022 financial year, a total number of 183,003 houses had been provided for free to homeless families in Bangladesh through this project. The Asryan project is continuing. 20. On the other hand, the Commission observes that the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected housing rights, especially for those living in major cities. Most people living in the major cities of Bangladesh live in rented houses. They have to pay a good portion of their monthly income (40%-60%) as house rent. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to unprecedented job loss, cut-off salaries etc. In these circumstances, many renters could not pay the rent, which compelled them to be evicted. 21. The Commission recommends that the provision of free/ affordable social housing to disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups, including residents of informal settlements should continue. At the same time, the Commission also recommends improving living conditions and guaranteeing the security of tenure for residents of urban areas. Right to Education 22. The education sector was one of the most affected sectors in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 outbreak. The schools remained closed for 18 months. The government’s efforts to leverage physical schooling by adopting digital platforms face notable challenges for various reasons. These include the lack of digital literacy for both teachers and students, lack of access to proper devices, lack of training in teaching methodology by using digital technology, inadequate internet speed and so on. The suspension of physical classes coupled with the financial crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic also created many social problems leading to the violation of other rights of the children. For example, many female children dropped out because of child marriage and many male children embraced the fate of child labourers. The incident of dropouts blurred Bangladesh’s progress in the sector of female education in the last few decades. On the other hand, many non-government educational institutes faced financial distress and consequently, the teachers working at those institutes were adversely affected by the same. The prolonged suspension of the physical classes also deteriorated the mental health of both students and teachers. 23. The Commission recommends inclusive education for girls and children with disabilities, and ensuring consistency in the quality of education and school curricula across different types of educational institutions. Climate Change 24. Climate Change makes Bangladesh one of the most vulnerable countries in the world and adversely affects the protection of human rights. It poses a serious risk to the fundamental rights to life, health, food and an adequate standard of living of individuals. Bangladesh adopted an effective Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan in 2009, which is considered a blueprint for other climate-vulnerable nations. The Commission welcomes that the government has undertaken a series of proactive policies and investments that strengthen resilience against climate-related disasters, leveraging community-led action. The most notable policies include developing coastal embankment systems that protect over 6,000 km of vulnerable coastline and an early warning system for cyclones with more than 76,000 7