Khawaza Main Uddin and Nazrul Islam
Despite having development goals galore, the election manifestoes of major contenders for power miss certain critical areas and lack strategies and programmes to achieve the ambitious targets for public welfare and national progress, shows an analysis of polls pledges.
Issues such as checking farmland depletion and protecting environment in view of global warming, guaranteeing equity with higher economic growth, the poor people’s access to justice and establishment of a pro-poor public healthcare system have not been covered by the electoral agendas announced by the BNP and the Awami League.
Moreover, none of the parties have made any pledges to reassert sovereignty over policymaking, which has been dictated over the years by the multilateral lending agencies and foreign players.
In a bid to woo the voters, the parties, however, accommodated some of the popular issues such as arresting commodity price-hike, providing social safety net for the poor and vulnerable groups, increasing power generation, infrastructure development, carrying forward administrative reforms, investment and employment generation, anti-corruption measures and good governance.
The parties used common expressions in their polls pledges such as ‘necessary and effective measures’ in their manifestoes meant for the December 29 general elections but did not specify how they would accomplish the high-sounding tasks.
The parties in their manifestoes skipped their thoughts on how to claim Bangladesh’s sovereignty over territorial waters in the mineral-rich Bay of Bengal, given the recent escalation of tensions with Myanmar and pending disputes with India.
They have also refrained from making commitments before the vote on bringing about qualitative changes in politics or that they would act in a responsible manner no matter if they are in treasury or opposition benches in parliament. Conspicuously, both the major parties remained silent about the much-talked about means of protest – hartal – in spite of longstanding demand for changing the means of protest that caused economic losses.
‘The two parties have come up with almost similar programmes although they have not clearly spelt out in most cases the strategies and sources of funds to implement the ambitious goals. Moreover, it is not yet evident that there have been changes in their mindset to bring about positive changes in politics’, said Dilara Chowdhury, a professor of government and politics department of Jahangirnagar University.
She said it was stunning that the politicians had not even admitted their mistakes, let alone regretting them. She regretted that the parties were silent over the issue of hartal and the culture of boycott of parliament.
The BNP and the Awami League are leading two alliances in the December 29 parliamentary polls being contested by as many as 39 parties.
The parties in their manifestoes have not paid due attention to economic diplomacy though it is a major issue. They have not detailed how they would safeguard Bangladesh’s interests in the international forums, including World Trade Organisation.
‘Both the parties have used some clichés in their manifestoes without presenting action plans for achieving the targets. Foreign policy, too, as an important issue for countries like ours, should have been focused adequately’, said Akmal Hossain, a professor of international relations at Dhaka University.
He said the parties are silent about how they would deal with global lenders such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank. Professor Akmal is one of the members of the seven-member independent mass tribunal which recently asked the government to realise compensation from the lenders for causing national losses.
The parties also ignored the issue of exploring new destinations for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled manpower for increasing remittances which amounting to $7 billion per annum helps meet deficit in the balance of payments in an import-dependent economy.
About tackling terrorism, the AL’s manifesto said it would address terrorism originating both from Islamists and criminal activities and try the war criminals of 1971 while BNP was silent about war crimes but generally said it would curb terrorism.
Courtesy: newagebd.com
