Highlights of Oikya Front manifesto
The opposition coalition of Jatiya Oikya Front on Monday unveiled 35 pledges announcing its election manifesto .ahead of the 11th parliamentary elections on 30 December.
If voted to power, according to the manifesto, the Front will ensure checks and balance in power between the president and the prime minister.
A person cannot hold the position of the prime minister for more than two consecutive terms, the Front pledges.
It also announces that current development activities and trials of the war crimes will continue.
The Front, led by Gano Forum president Kamal Hossain, includes the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), ASM Abdur Rab’s Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rab), Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s Nagorik Oikya, and Abdul Kader Siddique’s Krishak Sramik Janata League.
Mahmudur Rahman Manna read out the manifesto at an event at Hotel Purbani International in the city.
Kamal Hossain, BNP secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Ganashasthya Kendro’s founder Zafrullah Chowdhury, and Kader Siddique, among others, were present.
In his opening remarks, Kamal Hossain said, “We saw a farcical election in 5 January 2014. A total of 154 candidates became members of parliament without any contest. It is contrary the constitution.”
Manna said the price of electricity will not be raised in the next five years for consumers.
A truth and reconciliation commission will be formed to investigate the enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and false cases filed in the past 10 years, he added.
According to the manifesto, those, who attacked students during the recent movement of safe roads, will be brought to book in a speedy trial tribunal.
The Front pledged immediate steps to mitigate the traffic congestion in major cities.
The manifesto also vows to fight corruption and ensure accountable governance.
On foreign policy, the manifesto said, the steps will be taken to strengthen relations with India on the basis of equality.
If the Front assumes office, Bangladesh will also join the projects under China’s Belt and Road Initiative that are beneficial for the country, according to the manifesto.
Issues such as water-sharing of Teesta and other common rivers and Rohingya issue will be resolved through bilateral talks, the Front pledges.
UNB adds: The Front’s manifesto includes introducing upper house in parliament, restoration of people’s ownership of the country.
“We announce the Jatiya Oikya Front’s election charter. It’s a manifesto of the people. We’ve formulated it based on public opinion for welfare. We believe in the people’s ownership of the country that will be restored through voting,” Kamal Hossain said in his inaugural speech.
“If Jatiya Oikya Front gets responsibility of running the country by winning the elections, it will ensure welfare of all citizens. National unity, not the political vengeance, will be our main principle in running the government,” Mahmudur Rahman said.
Referring to the spirit of the constitution, Manna said people are the owners of all power of the republic. He added that, not only those who will win the election, but also those who will suffer defeat—their leaders and activists—will be the owners of the country if Oikya Front comes to power. “We’ll take opinions of the opposition parties in governing the country,” he added.
The opposition coalition promised to scrap the Digital Security Act.
Manna said Oikya Front will form a ministry for minorities and stop repression on them if it comes to power.
“An upper chamber of parliament will be created while article 70 of the constitution will be amended through discussion with all,” Manna said.
The some other promises of Oikya Front include stopping torture in police remand and arrest of people by plainclothes, ensuring compensation for those who have been made accused in false cases, showing zero tolerance to sexual and verbal harassment of women, preventing dowry, forming an independent commission comprising eminent citizens and opposition MPs for all important appointments including those of judges, examining the justification of formation of provincial government, investigating the plundering in banking sector, reforming the health sector, bringing down the cost of medical treatment, introducing health cards for all and appointing an ombudsman for bringing discipline in the health sector.
The coalition also pledges to revoke PSC and JSC examinations, introduce unified admission test in all public universities, reduce number of reserved seats for women to 10 per cent from 15 per cent, but ensure nomination of at least 20 per cent women candidates for parliamentary polls, ensure freedom of the press, encourage investigative journalism, announce regular wage board for journalists, ensure security of journalists in discharging their duties, reduce call rates of mobile phone and internet, and send a new satellite into the space.