Awami League promises ‘progress and prosperity’ in election manifesto

The Awami League, which has been in power for 10 years, has promised to put Bangladesh on a ‘highway to development’ and to incorporate younger generations into positions of leadership in its manifesto for the 11th parliamentary elections.

The party chief Sheikh Hasina said her party would ensure ‘sustainable investment and inclusive development’ if elected for the third time.

In 2008, the Awami League’s manifesto was titled ‘A Charter for Change’. In 2014 it was ‘Bangladesh Moves Forward’. Its manifesto for the Dec 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.

Hasina, who has been the prime minister for the past two terms, announced the party manifesto at a programme at Dhaka’s Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel that began at 10am on Tuesday.

The written manifesto states:

“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.

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, progressive, democratic welfare state.”

THE AWAMI LEAGUE'S PROMISES UPON RE-ELECTION

# Ensure 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.

# Increase the GDP growth rate to 10 percent in 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.

# Free health service for all aged under one year and above 65 years. All divisional cities will have medical universities.

# Bullet train will be introduced between Dhaka and other divisional cities. At least 10,000 km of waterway to be created in the next 5 years.

# Underpasses and overpasses will be constructed for the safety of students at educational institutions near highways. A tunnel will be made under the Jamuna River for easy access to the northern part of the country.

# Special programmes will be taken to honour the memory of the Liberation War, preventing distortion of the history and portray the real history.

# No law that goes against the Quran-Sunnah will be introduced

# Implementation of those articles of the Chattogram Hill Tracts Peace Accord yet to be completed.

# Special motivation for investigative journalism and providing necessary training for such reporting. Ensure the safety and security to the journalists as they perform their professional duties.

The manifesto announcement event began with the national anthem. A short documentary highlighting the development achievements of the Awami League government was then shown.

The introductory speech at the event was made by Awami League Election Manifesto Formulation Committee Convener Sangsad Abdur Razzak. He was followed by Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader.

Hasina then took the stage. Members of the cabinet, diplomats and prominent citizens attended the event.