Bangladesh News

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday announced her party’s election manifesto on the slogan ‘Save country, save people’, and said they will reform the caretaker government system and scrap the special powers act if voted back to power.

She also pledged measures to contain price hike of essentials, curb corruption, restore law and order, combat terrorism, and allow the judiciary full independence.

The former prime minister said if BNP wins the December 29 election and forms government, it will make all representatives release their wealth accounts within 30 days of oath-taking.

She read out the 36-point polls charter at a city hotel with a host of her party colleagues, diplomats and eminent citizens in the audience.

The programme began at around 4:00pm with renditions of the national anthem and party song.

In the televised speech, Khaleda said they will strive to make parliament the centre of politics. “Speaker and deputy speaker will resign their party posts.”

The deputy speaker will be nominated from the opposition, she added.

Standing committees will be formed by the second session of parliament. Chairmen of the committees will be picked from the opposition bench as well.

“No party or alliance will be allowed to boycott parliament sessions. They can however stage walkouts on specific issues,” said the BNP chief, adding that they will pursue a policy of bilateral discussions in parliament to resolve the issues of public interest.

“None will be allowed to make offensive comments on late national leaders, and be absent in parliament for 30 days at a stretch.”

A huge cheer went up from the throng of BNP leaders as Khaleda was scathing about the present caretaker government.

In the manifesto, the former premier promises to introduce health insurance for the poor people.

Alongside a provision of allowances for those unemployed, her government will take up a project to ensure at least one from each family gets permanent job.

Establishing a participatory parliament, working towards a responsible political climate, forging effective ties between the state and social forces, and building a competent and neutral administration are among the pledges made in the BNP manifesto.

Referring to the caretaker government system, she said, “We will make some changes after detailed discussions in parliament in the interest of a free and fair election every five years.”

The party also undertook to develop the private sector, promote balanced trade, draw up a national energy policy and expand the communications network.

It will make efforts to build an underground rail system or elevated monorail in the capital to ease traffic congestion.

The administration will be decentralised to be accessible to those at the grassroots level, said Khaleda.

Observing that the country’s image has been tarnished due to excessive publicity of corruption, she said they will “make the Anti-Corruption Commission independent”.

On return to power, her party will declare May 30, death anniversary of its founder president Ziaur Rahman, the National Mourning Day and public holiday. It will also reinstate November 7 as a holiday for the day to be observed as the ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’ at state level.

“An all-party parliamentary committee will be formed to bring about transparency in recruitment for organisations like the Anti-Corruption Commission and the University Grants Commission,” she said.

She criticised the present government for ‘interference in the judiciary’, and said if her party wins the public verdict it will establish for the judiciary a separate secretariat under the Supreme Court.

Congratulating the new voters, the BNP chief said she wants them on her side in efforts to rid the country of graft and nepotism.

An overall progress in the economic sector will naturally mean ample employment opportunities, she noted.

For food security, emphasis would be on farm subsidies. “We’ll make sure farmers get the right price for their produce and they don’t have to pay in excess to buy seeds and fertilisers and agricultural implements.”

Stressing the need for mass education, Khaleda said they aim to achieve education for all within five years.

An advisory committee will be formed within the first 100 days to work out ways to make the education system more functional and pro-people.

“We’ll eliminate illiteracy within five years, and take steps so no child remains out of school.”

She said a national energy policy will be formulated on recommendations of a high-powered committee. Besides, her government will make every effort for optimum use of the country’s oil and gas, keeping the national interest intact.

Khaleda also spoke of plans to set up a nuclear power plant for electricity generation and a deep sea port.

She said the Bangladeshi expatriates will be allowed to register as voters and contribute to national development.

“We will resist all attempts to label Bangladesh as a communal and fundamentalist state.”