Oikya Front manifesto urges people to ‘take back’ the government

The Jatiya Oikya Front manifesto says that the alliance’s victory in the 11th parliamentary elections will restore the reins of the government to the hands of the people.

The alliance, which formed with the inclusion of the BNP two months ago, said the people had lost their hold on the government with the ‘farce of an election’ in 2014. The alliance’s victory in the Dec 30 polls will restore power to the people, the manifesto said.

The manifesto, which includes a list of 14 election promises, was announced on Monday at a hotel in Dhaka in the presence of the coalition’s chief Kamal Hossain.

At the press conference BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Ganashasthya Kendro’s Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury sat on Kamal Hossain’s right, while Krishak Sramik Janata League President Bangabir Kader Siddique and Nagorik Oikya’s Mahmudur Rahman Manna sat on his left.

Kamal Hossain gave an initial speech before Manna read out the Oikya Front’s election manifesto.

In his brief address Kamal Hossain said:

“On Jan 5, 2014 we saw a farce called an election. It conflicted with every part of the constitution, which requires the government to be formed by representatives of the people. The people lost their power over the government during this election.”

Kamal also criticised the Awami League, his old party, which had been in power for the past 10 years.

“When the people no longer have control of the government it is taken over by vested interests and various domestic and foreign groups. The people of this country have had to suffer. You have felt this in your bones.”

“If we win the election and are given the responsibility, the Jatiya Oikya Front will govern for the welfare of all citizens. Our principles will be unity, integrity and lack of vengeance.”

“The people are the stewards of the republic. The Oikya Front government will follow section seven of the constitution and work to strengthen the people’s power over the state.”

This will apply not only to the people who win back their ownership over the government, but also the defeated parties, he said.

“The Oikya Front government will safeguard the opinions and rights of those it defeats in the election.”

The 35-point manifesto also mentions bringing a balance of power between the president and the prime minister.  
 
It calls for a maximum limit to the tenure of a prime minister to two terms in an effort to prevent one-party rule. 

The manifesto states that current development work will continue under an Oikya Front government alongside the trials of war criminals.
 
The manifesto also vows to decentralise of power, end corruption and ensure good governance, employment and education, health amenities, improvements to the standard of living, power and fuel, and the welfare of expatriates.
 
“This manifesto belongs to the people. It has been prepared based on the opinion of the ordinary people and we’ll continue to accept their opinions. We believe in establishing the people’s ownership peacefully through election,” said Kamal.
 
Candidates nominated from five members in Jatiya Oikya Front are contesting the upcoming election on Dec 30, using the ‘paddy sheaf’ symbol.
 
The BNP has kept 242 seats to themselves and shared 19 seats with the Jatiya Oikya Front. That includes seven for Gono Forum, four for JSD, four for Nagorik Oikya, and four for Krishak Shramik Janata League. It shared the rest of the 39 seats with the 20-party alliance, which includes the Jamaat-e Islam.