Dhaka, Dec 18 – Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the arch-rival of the ruling Awami League (AL), on Tuesday pledged for generating one crore new employment both in government and private sectors and providing unemployment allowances for the youths in five years if the party voted to power in the December 30 parliamentary polls. In its poll manifesto, the party also promised to establish a future-oriented new political culture in the country against the backdrop of the politics of vengeance and revenge and bring a balance of power between the President and the prime minister limiting a prime minister’s tenure to a maximum of two terms.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the party manifesto through a press conference at Lakeshore Hotel in the city a day after the major opposition alliance Jatiya Oikya Front, where BNP is a major partner, declared its 35-point manifesto.
A national commission comprising ruling party and opposition party and eminent citizens will be formed to reach a new social bond to introduce a future-oriented new political culture against the politics of vengeance and revenge, said the manifesto.
The party also promised to promote a culture of tolerance in politics which will encourage political leaders not to make objectionable comments on national leaders.
In its 19-point promises, the BNP pledged to reintroduce the referendum system to reestablish people’s democratic rights, establish bicameral parliament, elect deputy speaker from the opposition bench,
appoint an ombudsman, cancel the black laws including the digital security act, official secret act and special power act 1974.
Speaking at the press conference, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir asserted that if voted to power the BNP won’t take any revenge to anyone.
“We want to make it clear that the BNP will build a modern democratic system in the country and it would take multidimensional and upgraded projects for the development of the country. We will not take any revenge to anyone, rather the aim of the BNP is to build Bangladesh as a country free from revenge enrich with harmony.
He called upon the voters to cast their votes for the sheaf of paddy, the poll symbol of the BNP, to restore the dignity of former premier Khaleda Zia and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and help the party activists to return their homes from hiding.
The manifesto titled “We to go ahead together, cast vote for the sheaf of paddy,” has been prepared in line with the “Vision 203o” announced by its jailed chairperson Khaleda Zia during the party’s sixth national council in March 2016.
In line with the Jatiya Oikya Front, the BNP also promised that there will be no age limit to join government services except those of police and defence forces and two lakh people would be provided government jobs directly over the next three years.
To allure the support of the youth community, the BNP manifesto put emphasis on their demands giving importance to the issues of quota reform, VAT free education and safe roads.
The BNP will form a judicial commission to bring necessary reforms to the judiciary system to entrust the control of lower courts from the President to the Supreme Court.
Besides, it will introduce a “logical” rationing system for retired armed forces officials, said the manifesto.
The BNP to make public all the probe reports, including the BDR killings and Bangladesh Bank reserve heist, and steps will be taken for further investigations.
The BNP to form pension funds for private and self-employed individuals and that a ration system will be introduced for the poor and those in the low-income group. Furthermore, a 20-year loan will be introduced for young couples and entrepreneurs to help them become self-dependent, said the manifesto.
The party to declare all the freedom fighters as “Honourable Citizens of the State” and increase their allowances in line with inflation. A task force will be formed to investigate the high project cost of the rental power projects, read the manifesto.
The BNP also promised to turn gradually the metropolitan areas, municipalities and other administrative centres into smart villages, smart cities and smart municipalities. To face various risks in the agriculture sector, crop insurance, cattle insurance, fisheries insurance and poultry insurance will be introduced, even if it needs to be subsidized.
“Logical” inheritance of property will be ensured for women and a commission will be formed to examine the existing contradictory laws in this regard.
Earlier on Monday, the Jatiya Oikya Front rolled out a 35-point electoral manifesto for the 11th general election, also vowing to establish a balance of power between the President and the prime minister.
Many of the Oikya Front pledges are similar to those in the BNP’s electoral manifesto, including the balance of power, an upper chamber of parliament, an amendment to article 70 of the constitution and forming a minority affairs ministry.
BNP standing committee members Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, among others were present at the press conference. – Staff Reporter
