Two-term limit for PM

Says Fakhrul as he announces BNP manifesto with slogan ‘we will go ahead together’

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),the arch rival of the ruling Awami League (AL), yesterday pledged to generating one crore new jobs both in government and private sectors and provide unemployment allowance for youths in five years, if voted to power in the December 30 parliamentary polls.

In its poll manifesto, the party also promised to establish a futuristic new political culture in the country against the backdrop of the politics of vengeance and revenge and establish 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 at a press conference at Lakeshore Hotel in the city a day after the major opposition alliance Jatiya Oikyafront, where BNP is a major partner, declared its 35-point manifesto.

 A national commission comprising the 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, says the manifesto.

The party also promises to promote a culture of tolerance in politics to discourage political leaders from making objectionable comments on national leaders.

In its 19-point promises, the BNP has pledged to reintroduce the referendum system to re-establish people's democratic rights, establish a bicameral parliament, and elect a deputy speaker from the opposition bench, appoint an ombudsman, cancel black laws including the Digital Security Act, the Official Secrets Act and Special Powers Act 1974.

Speaking at the press conference, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir asserted that, if voted to power, the BNP would not embark on the path of revenge.

"We want to make it clear that the BNP will build a modern democratic system in the country and would initiate multidimensional and upgraded projects for the development

of the country. We will not take any revenge on anyone; rather the aim of the BNP is to build Bangladesh as a country free of revenge and rich in 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 party activists return home from hiding.

 The manifesto, titled ‘We will go ahead together, cast vote for the sheaf of paddy’, has been prepared in line with the ‘Vision 2030’ announced by its jailed chairperson Khaleda Zia during the party’s sixth national council in March 2016.

 In line with the Jatiya Oikyafront, the BNP has also promised that there will be no age limit to joining government services except those of police and defence forces and two lakh people would be provided government jobs directly in the next three years.

 To allure the support of the youth, the BNP manifesto has 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 in the judiciary to shift 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, says the manifesto.

 The BNP promises to make public all probe reports, including the BDR killings and the Bangladesh Bank reserve heist, and steps will be taken for further investigation.

 The BNP is also 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, says the manifesto.  The party will declare all the freedom fighters “Honourable Citizens of the State” and increase their allowances in line with inflation. A taskforce will be formed to investigate the high project cost of the rental power projects, reads the manifesto.

 The BNP also promises to gradually turn 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 Oikyafront 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 Oikyafront pledges are similar to those in the BNP’s electoral manifesto, including the balance of power, upper chambers of parliament, amendment to Article 70 of the Constitution and the formation of 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.

 

Two-term limit for PM

Says Fakhrul as he announces BNP manifesto with slogan we will go ahead together

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),the arch rival of the ruling Awami League (AL), yesterday pledged to generating one crore new jobs both in government and private sectors and provide unemployment allowance for youths in five years, if voted to power in the December 30 parliamentary polls. In its poll manifesto, the party also promised to establish a futuristic new political culture in the country against the backdrop of the politics of vengeance and revenge and establish a balance of power between the President and the prime minister, limiting a prime ministers tenure to a maximum of two terms. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the party manifesto at a press conference at Lakeshore Hotel in the city a day after the major opposition alliance Jatiya Oikyafront, where BNP is a major partner, declared its 35-point manifesto. A national commission comprising the 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, says the manifesto. The party also promises to promote a culture of tolerance in politics to discourage political leaders from making objectionable comments on national leaders. In its 19-point promises, the BNP has pledged to reintroduce the referendum system to re-establish peoples democratic rights, establish a bicameral parliament, and elect a deputy speaker from the opposition bench, appoint an ombudsman, cancel black laws including the Digital Security Act, the Official Secrets Act and Special Powers Act 1974. Speaking at the press conference, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir asserted that, if voted to power, the BNP would not embark on the path of revenge. We want to make it clear that the BNP will build a modern democratic system in the country and would initiate multidimensional and upgraded projects for the development of the country. We will not take any revenge on anyone; rather the aim of the BNP is to build Bangladesh as a country free of revenge and rich in 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 party activists return home from hiding. The manifesto, titled We will go ahead together, cast vote for the sheaf of paddy, has been prepared in line with the Vision 2030 announced by its jailed chairperson Khaleda Zia during the partys sixth national council in March 2016. In line with the Jatiya Oikyafront, the BNP has also promised that there will be no age limit to joining government services except those of police and defence forces and two lakh people would be provided government jobs directly in the next three years. To allure the support of the youth, the BNP manifesto has 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 in the judiciary to shift 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, says the manifesto. The BNP promises to make public all probe reports, including the BDR killings and the Bangladesh Bank reserve heist, and steps will be taken for further investigation. The BNP is also 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, says the manifesto. The party will declare all the freedom fighters Honourable Citizens of the State and increase their allowances in line with inflation. A taskforce will be formed to investigate the high project cost of the rental power projects, reads the manifesto. The BNP also promises to gradually turn 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 Oikyafront 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 Oikyafront pledges are similar to those in the BNPs electoral manifesto, including the balance of power, upper chambers of parliament, amendment to Article 70 of the Constitution and the formation of 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.