On the eve of the opposition’s planned “march for democracy” to stop the January 5 parliamentary polls, the ruling Awami League yesterday announced its election manifesto pledging a “tolerant democratic” system and politics without violence and bloodshed.
In a 48-page manifesto, titled “Bangladesh Marching Ahead” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League had set a vision to make Bangladesh a “developed” country by 2050.
The AL president said her party would take measures to make the younger generation fit for taking up the party leadership.
Hasina said her party would endeavour to build national consensus among all political parties, classes and professions on the basis of upholding the democratic process and ensuring unhindered development.
The PM also said the government would foil all “conspiracies of the evil forces” by holding the 10th parliamentary polls in line with the constitution despite a boycott by the major opposition parties.
In similarity with the party’s 2008 manifesto, the AL chief expressed a tough stance against Islamic militancy while declaring that her party would not enact any law against the Quran or Sunnah.
Hasina also said the party would ban communal politics and bar the political involvement of foreign-aided NGOs and civil society groups.
Furthermore, the next government would execute the verdicts of the war crime tribunals and try those who let loose a reign of terror and destruction to block the trials of the war criminals, she said.
From the podium at the conference hall of the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, Hasina took an hour to read 26 pages of the manifesto leaving out the portions containing the “successes” of her government between 2009 and 2013.
“No evil force can detract us from the peaceful path of development and progress that we have initiated,” the AL chief said seeking vote for a second consecutive term to make Bangladesh free from hunger, illiteracy, malnutrition and power shortages.
“Awami League’s re-election would make politics free from enmity, violence, and confrontations, and Bangladesh will come out of the morass of corruption and criminalisation. A tolerant democratic system will then be a reality,” she said.
She said her party over the next five years would present the people with a new vision of development upto 2041.
The AL president repeated her stance against religious fanaticism, militancy and extremism.
“The religious rights of the people would be guaranteed. No law against the Quran and Sunnah would be enacted,” said Hasina with a stress.
“The Election Commission has been shaped as an independent constitutional body and made stronger andmore efficient than before. The commission will be made more powerful in future,” she said.
Hasina said her next government would make the Anti-Corruption Commission stronger and a more effective body.
“Tough measures will be taken against bribery, undisclosed income, black money, loan defaulting, snatching of tender documents and muscle power,” said Hasina, amid clapping from activists of Chhatra League.
The AL government in November passed a law curtailing the authority of the autonomous Anti-
Corruption Commission to file cases against public servants charged with corruption.
Hasina reiterated her 2008 pledge to make parliament effective with two short paragraphs on the constitution and parliament, with no reference to opposition parties.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
