DHAKA, Dec 18, 2018 (BSS) – Awami League President and Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina today floated her party manifesto for the upcoming December 30
elections pledging to keep the country on the track of prosperity.
“I’m giving you word. Taking lessons from the past we will devote ourselves
to build a nice future for all and ensure inclusive development,” she said
unveiling the manifesto at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel here.
The manifesto focuses on 33 sectors to be dealt with two strategic plans –
the SDG and Delta Plan 2100 – to eradicate hunger and poverty, promote
education and build a secular nation to fulfill the dreams of Father of the
Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 1971 martyrs.
Sheikh Hasina announced the manifesto in presence of a cross section of
people including civil society and professional figures, artistes,
journalists business leaders, foreign diplomats and representatives of
development partners.
The manifesto selected ‘Somridhir Agrojatrai Bangladesh” (Bangladesh in
pursuit of Prosperity)’ as the slogan for her party ahead of the 11th
parliamentary elections while Sheikh Hasina said the manifesto sought to
continue the long-term action plans of her government .
She said the action plans were prepared in an implementable
manner.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, convenor of the manifesto
preparing committee and party’s Presidium Member Dr Abdur Razzak also spoke
on the occasion.
Sheikh Hasina urged the countrymen to see the errors and lapses of her
government with a lenient view and cast their votes in favour of Awami League
in the coming election.
At the beginning, a video on Bangladesh’s progress during the Awami
League’s two consecutive tenures since 2009 was displayed.
In the manifesto Sheikh Hasina highlighted the success of her government
over the last ten years and focused on the future plan to be carried out in
the areas of social, economic, political and cultural sectors to build a
prosperous country.
Sheikh Hasina said her government would work for strengthening democracy,
electoral process and the parliament as well as human rights commission,
anti-corruption commission, mass media and judiciary.
At the beginning of her prime minister paid her rich tributes to Father of
the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four national leaders, martyrs
of independence and victims of August 15, 1975 carnage and August 21, 2004.
She also remembered party’s founding leaders and others including former
Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria who were the victims of the brutal killings
by BNP-Jamaat alliance terrorists after 2001, heroes of democratic movements
and victims of the violence and arson attacks carried out by BNP-Jamaat goons
in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Sheikh Hasina said if voted to power again, the scope for effectively
getting the shelter and assistance of law for each and every citizen would be
ensured, upholding the independence of judiciary.
Along with ensuring universal human rights, any attempt to trample the
human rights would be prevented.
Aimed at putting in place a skilled, service-oriented and accountable
administration, the prime minister said work on building a modern,
technology-based, skilled, corruption-free, mass-oriented administration will
continue.
“The transparency, accountability, fairness in the civil administration
will be ensured,” she said.
The prime minister reiterated her commitment to build a people friendly law
enforcement agency saying their recruitment would be made in proportionate
with the population.
Sheikh Hasina said if elected her government would continue to pursue the
“zero tolerance” policy against militancy and drug while her party would
undertake zero tolerance policy against corruption.
As part of a comprehensive anti-graft campaign, she said, the Anti-
corruption Commission would be strengthened, public awareness programme will
be taken and ICT will be used to check corruption.
Sheikh Hasina said as part of her government’s policy to people’s
empowerment, her government would empower further the local government bodies
with more financial and administrative authorities.
The government’s assistance and efforts would continue to widen and
improve the civic amenities and steps will be taken to ensure transparency,
accountability and peoples’ participation in planning of land use at towns
and cities, planned development and city management, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has undertaken a plan to increase the
GDP growth to 10 percent in the next five years.
“The per capita income of the people of Bangladesh will be over US$ 5,479.
The poverty rate will come down towards zero by 2041 (if we return to
power),” she said.
Reiterating her commitment to implementing her government’s ongoing mega
projects like the Padma Bridge, Rooppur Nuclear power plant, Rampal coal-
fired power plant, Deep sea port, Dhaka Mass Rapid Development transit
project, LNG terminal, Moheshkhali-Matarbari integrated infrastructure
development project, Payra sea port, Padma Bridge rail link and construction
of Rail truck between Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar.
Sheikh Hasina said ‘My village-my town’ will be expanded in every district
aimed at expansion of modern civic amenities at each village and turning
villages into towns.
In the next five years, electricity will be provided at every house. All villages of the country will be connected with Upazila/Zilla through pucca roads, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said for employment, mills and factories will be built at Zila/Upazila levels, internet and modern technology will be reached all over the country while infrastructure for healthy entertainment and sports to be built.
“If we are voted to power, we will create employment opportunities for one
crore twenty eight lakh people in the next five years. Employment
opportunities for one thousand youths and young women from each upazila will
be created outside the country,” Sheikh Hasina said.
The National Service Program, aimed at creating employments, will be expanded gradually to all upazilas and youth training centers will be set-up in all upazilas, she added.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh Awami League is committed to establishing equal rights and dignity of women and men at all levels of the state and their participation at all levels of the national life.
The prime minister said female workers in garment and other sectors would get four-month maternity leave with full salary and ongoing health care and housing facilities and security at work place and entertainment facilities will continue. Rationing system for all workers and hardcore poor and rural landless farm laborers will be introduced.
About the plan of her government for education sector, the prime minister said the highest budget allocation will be ensured for education sector and all-out steps will be taken for improving the standard of education. Madrasha education will be harmonized with the main stream education. School-feeding program will gradually be introduced at all villages, semi-muffashal towns and for the poor. The ongoing stipend programs from the primary to the higher education level will continue and one technical institute will be established at each upazila.
Sheikh Hasina said children less than one year and citizens over 65 years will get health services free of cost. One medical university will be setup at each divisional city. The facilities of community clinics including its buildings will be modernized.
Sheikh Hasina said bullet trains between Dhaka and the divisional cities will be introduced and a 35-km long elevated expressway from Airport to Chandra via Ashulia and a 40-km elevated expressway from Hemayatpur of Savar and Madanpur of Narayanganj will be constructed.
The prime minister said modern bus services will be introduced in the capital for bringing discipline in the mass transport system. Underpass/overpasses will be constructed adjacent to educational institutions situated near highways. A tunnel will be constructed under the river Jamuna for easing communication with the northern region.
Sheikh Hasina said as per the constitution, all citizens will be guaranteed freedom of religion. Bangladesh will be built in a non-communal spirit. However, the government would not frame any law against the Quran and the Sunnah.
A national minority commission will be constituted to see the matters of the ethnic groups, religious minorities and backward communities. Initiatives will be taken to implement those sections of the CHT Peace Accord which have not yet been implemented. The right of the original proprietors will be reinstated on the land within the prescribed time, she said. Sheikh Hasina said the independence of mass media and free flow of information will be upheld. Effective measures will be taken to protect propagation of fake news and unexpected rumor. The journalism and news media which are loyal to social liabilities will be promoted from the government side.
The prime minister said her government would inspire journalists for investigative journalism and necessary training would be given in this regard. The security of journalists and media staff will be ensured for their professional duties.
“Media friendly Act will be formulated. There will be no misuse of any law against journalists and mass media,” she said.
To read full manifesto please visit the link below –