M M Jasim :
The ruling Awami League in its election manifesto on Tuesday promised that all the facilities which the city people enjoy would be also extended to the rural people also.
“Every village will be connected with upazila towns,” it said.
AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unveiled the election manifesto on Tuesday.
“If voted, the party will undertake programmes to upgrade villages to cities,” said Sheikh Hasina in the manifesto.
Electricity will reach every household, and all the villages will be connected with the district and upazila towns by the concrete roads, she said. Mills and factories will be set up in all districts and upazilas to resolve crisis in employment, while internet and information technology will reach everywhere, she said.
The praogramme began with the national anthem followed by screening of a short documentary highlighting the development achievements of the Awami League government.
The introductory speech was given by Awami League Election Manifesto Formulation Committee Convener Abdur Razzak and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader.
Hasina then took the stage. Members of the cabinet, diplomats and prominent citizens attended the event. The AL President also promised to put Bangladesh on a ‘highway to development’ and to incorporate younger generations into positions of leadership. She said that her party would ensure ‘sustainable investment and inclusive development’ if elected for the third time.
In 2008, the Awami League’s manifesto was ‘A Charter for Change’. In 2014 it was ‘Bangladesh Moves Forward’. Its manifesto for the December 30 polls is ‘Bangladesh on Path to Progress and Prosperity’.
The 80-page document presents the party’s positions on key issues, its achievements in the past 10 years and its plans for the future.
Sheikh Hasina, who has been the prime minister for the past two terms, announced the party manifesto at a programme that began at 10am on Tuesday. “We do not want a politics of division, violence, arson, obstruction or unrest. We want a democratic environment for a free and fair election. We want to ensure the participation of all to reach a national consensus,” The Awami League promises to protect the country against terrorism, militancy, drugs, communalism and corruption and maintain democracy and the rule of law if it retains power. It also promises to ensure the representation of women in positions of power,” she added. The party also promises to safeguard peace, security and development for the people through developing proper governance free of corruption and providing a skilled, service-oriented public sector and positive law enforcement. “Let us all come together to create a Bangladesh that provides for the basic needs of all, cultivates a tolerant democratic system, social justice, freedom of religion and protection of rights, women’s rights and opportunities, the development of skilled and creative work for youth, the rule of law, human rights, good governance, the removal of inequality between urban and rural areas and an environment free of pollution. We shall create an inclusive, progressive, scientific-minded, democratic welfare state.”
The other promises include cultivation of human rights at all levels including the prevention of any attempt to violate human rights.
Recruitment for the law enforcement agencies, including police, according to the ratio of the population in next five years
Zero tolerance of terrorism, communalism, violence and drugs. Highest priority will be given to eliminate crime, extortion and illegal occupation. To increase the GDP growth rate to 10 percent within the next 5 years. Bangladesh will become a middle income country by 2021 and the per capita income of the people will be more than $5,479 by 2030. All villages will have every necessary urban facility. Power will be connected to every household in the country within the next five years. All villages will be connected to districts and upazilas by proper roads. ‘Youth training centres’ to be established in each upazila. An integrated database will be formed at the national level with information for youth from all education levels. ‘Youth entertainment centres’ to be opened at each upazila to give the young people access to healthy entertainment. Each district will also have a ‘youth sports complex’. # The Awami League plans to create 102 million jobs in the next 5 years. At least 1,000 young men and women from each upazila will be sent abroad for employment. Eliminating child marriage and pay equality for men and women. There will be loan facilities for women entrepreneurs. Reducing the poverty rate to 12.3 percent and extreme poverty rate to 5 percent. At least one person in each family will have a stable income. The one house, one farm programme will continue. The poor will get loans easily. # Easy loans, policy assistance, technological suggestion and subsidy will be provided to establish small dairy, poultry and fish farms. Everyone will receive electricity by 2020. At least 28,000 MW power and 5,000 CFT LNG will be supplied by 2023.
Modern industrial cities will be established on both banks of the Padma River. Each upazila will have a technical institute.
Education facilities for indigenous groups in their own language and free text books will be distributed for them. Ending the disparity at the salary scale for government primary school teachers and other education sectors.
