Oikyafront pledges major reforms

Draft manifesto: Premiership for only 2 terms; Provision of election-time govt; Balance of power; No age limit in govt jobs; Special Tribunal for trial of corruption

Jatiya Oikyafront steering committee members holding talks at the office of Dr Kamal Hossain's Motijheel office protesting mass arrest and announcement of election manifesto on Thursday.
Jatiya Oikyafront steering committee members holding talks at the office of Dr Kamal Hossain's Motijheel office protesting mass arrest and announcement of election manifesto on Thursday.
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Noman Mosharef :
Newly formed political alliance Jatiya Oikyafront has drafted its election manifesto with pledge of vital reforms in all sectors. The first one is that none can be the Prime Minister for more than two consecutive terms. Besides, the lower courts will be brought under the command of the Supreme Court, amendment of Article 70 of the Constitution giving the MP right to take decision, and the provision of election-time government.
The Oikyafront source said that a joint committee comprising BNP, Gono Forum, JSD, Krishak Sramik Janata League and Nagorik Oikya is working in this regard. The component parties of the alliance will have one representative in the committee. After it gets approval of the central leaders, it will be announced.  
It has been said in the draft manifesto that the cost of Internet on mobile phones will be reduced substantially. Free Wi-Fi will be arranged in different public places of the country. Ministry of minority community will be established. Any kind of attacks on minorities will be tried in the Special Tribunal. Emphasis will be given to industrialization  
of the country’s poverty-stricken districts. Armed forces will be equipped with modern and sophisticated weapons. Welfare programmes will be taken for the members of the Armed Forces. Bilateral issues, including the sharing of river waters, sharing of common rivers, and Rohingya problems will be resolved quickly. During the safe road movement, brutal attackers on the students will be brought to justice. The transportation policy will be formulated in the city by leading public transport.
It has been suggested in the manifesto none can be the Premier for more than two terms consecutively. The amendment of Article 70 would be done. Bi-cameral Parliament shall be introduced.
Jatiya Oikyafront will abolish digital security law if it comes to power. Criticism, even ridicule, have the right to public action and government officials. There will be no direct or indirect government control on the media including social media.
Unacceptable killings and shutdown will completely be stopped. Any kind of physical torture will not be allowed in police custody in the name of remand. Someone will not be arrested. Citizens will also be protected from stray political workers.
The Oikyafront have made big plans to create employment opportunities to win the mindset of two million young voters. Without the police and military forces, they will not have any age limit to enter into government jobs. Quota will be introduced for the disadvantaged population and the disabled. All government vacancies will be completed in three years.
The Ombudsman will be appointed and the full independence will be given to the Ombudsman to perform all the duties of the constitution. The Special Tribunal will perform to bring those involved in corruption. According to the draft, the Anti-Corruption Commission will be allowed to work fully independently. The government’s permission to arrest corrupt government officials (government employment law-018) will be canceled. Legal action will be taken against those involved in the banking sector and the looters in the stock market.
There is a pledge to cancel the PSC and JSC examinations and to arrange a combine admission test at all public universities. Since the first year, all educational institutions including DUCSU will ensure regular student parliamentary elections.
If the Oikyafront comes to power it will work for fixing minimum wages of workers of all sectors and arranging multi-storied buildings for garment workers in all other industries including garments, fertilization and other agricultural inputs will be made available by increasing agricultural subsidy.
Distribution of food free of cost for the poor and destitute will be arranged. The allowance will be increased for the of old, destitute female, widows and husband abandoners. Ration will be introduced at affordable prices for the poor and rural people, including workers and agricultural labourers.
Instead of the reserved seats for women, a compulsory 20 percent nomination will be made for women in the direct election. Expatriates’ franchise will be confirmed. New markets will be explored for the export of labour force in different countries of Europe, Japan and Asia.
The members of the Jatiya Oikyafront draft manifesto committee are founder of Gonoshasthya Kendra Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, BNP’s Mahfuz Ullah, Gono Forum AOM Shafiq Ullah, JSD’s Shahid Uddin, Krishak Sramik Janata League’s Iqbal Siddiqui and Nagorik Oikya’s Zahed ur Rahman.
Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury said that the purposal of creating a welfare state, the manifestation was created. There are many reforms proposals including amendment to the Constitution. After the draft is finalized, there is a plan to take public opinion through the website.
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