Awami League President Sheikh Hasina unveiled her party’s election manifesto yesterday, focusing on peace and stability, national consensus, the trial of war criminals, establishing the rule of law, decentralisation and combating corruption, reports UNB. Hasina, also the Prime Minister, rolled out the 26-point party manifesto at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) just nine days ahead of the 10th election in presence of the party leaders, activists, media people and diplomats.
The theme of the election manifesto is: ‘Marching ahead Bangladesh: Road to peace, democracy, development and prosperity’.
Reading out the manifesto, Sheikh Hasina said the main aim of her party is to ensure the socioeconomic freedom of people and build a
hunger-and poverty-free prosperous country. The Prime Minister also mentioned that the long-term aim of Awami League to take the country to the level of developed countries by 2050. “We’ll formulate a development strategy to this end,” she added.
In the manifesto, it was stated that Awami League, if voted to power, it would bring the culprits under the trial process who create anarchy in the country to foil the war crimes trial.
About the election system, it said the process that started to introduce a credible and permanent election process will be strengthened and be put on a stronger base.
It mentioned that the legal, political, social and institutional steps will be strengthened to resist corruption. “The efficacy of the Anti-Corruption Commission will be enhanced by increased its power.”
Stringent measures will be taken to eradicate bribery, unearned incomes, black money, rent seeking, loan default, tender grabbing and muscle power, and corruption and roguery.
The AL manifesto also pledges to ensure electricity connections to all houses by the next five years and produce 16,000 MW of power by 2016.
Laying special emphasis on the education as a tool to change the fate of the country, Awami League in its manifesto decided to change the primary education system. It said that in lieu of class five, primary level will be applicable up to class eight.
It also put emphasis on development of the standard of education promising to reduce the student-teacher ratio from primary to high school levels.
Saying that the development of human resource is one of the priority sectors of Awami League, it pledges to quickly finish the ongoing project to set up one technical school in all upazilas.
It also mentioned that stern actions will be taken to remove session jams, politicisation, bad politics and terrorism in educational institutions.
The AL chief said the Padma Bridge will be constructed with the country’s own resources. “The construction works on the second Jamuna and Padma bridges will start within the next five years finishing technical and all other preparations very quickly.”
About the media, it said that the free flow of information and upholding the freedom of media will be ensured as in the past. It also said that implementation of the 8th Wage Board will be ensured alongside ensuring the security of journalists during their duties.
About the foreign policy, it said that the foreign policy of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, ‘friendship to all, malice to none’, will be followed and the soil of Bangladesh will not be allowed to be uses for any local and international terrorism.No separatist organisation will be allowed to use the land of the country.
-With UNB/The Independent input
