BNP is offering plenty of benefits to the Freedom Fighters, promising them to be upheld as ‘honorary citizens’ of the state in its manifesto.

The party, also a component of Jatiya Oikyafront, has pledged to curb all corruption within the system of Freedom Fighters’ registration.

It has also pledged to increase allowances and benefits for the families of Freedom Fighters in conjunction with the inflation of the country.

BNP has also promised to make a comprehensive list of martyrs all across the country, and also uncover all the undiscovered Freedom Fighters.

♦ Per capita income over $5,479 by 2030

♦ Social safety net coverage to double 

♦ Form National Minority Commission

♦ People-friendly law enforcement agencies

♦ At least one earning-member in every family

The ruling Awami League's election manifesto will make promises of strengthening democracy, rule of law and ridding the country of corruption under the tagline “Bangladesh on the March of Prosperity”.

AL leaders involved in drafting the document said it would make 21 pledges, including complete eradication of poverty by 2041, social safety net increased twofold and at least one earning member in every family.

AL President Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to unveil the “Election Manifesto 2018” at a city hotel at 10:00 am today.

The party that has been in power since 2009 would also make promises of ensuring quality education at every stage, more government and private investments, use of digital technology for development and quality health service for all.

The agenda also includes safe roads, self-reliance in power and energy, women empowerment, gender equality, child welfare and nutritious food, modern farming, skilled and service-oriented public administration, people-friendly law enforcement agencies and welfare for senior citizens and persons with disabilities and autism.

Sustainable and inclusive development, urban amenities in rural areas, transformation of young people into skilled manpower and their employment, adoption of a zero tolerance policy towards corruption, eradication of communalism, militancy and drugs, and immediate implementation of mega projects will also be mentioned in the manifesto.

The AL slogan for the 2014 national polls was “Bangladesh Marching Forward” and for 2008 “Right to Vote and Food: Tools to Eliminate Poverty”.

The party also pledges to form a National Minority Commission and enact the Special Minority Protection Act to ensure safety of communities. Laws that discriminate religious and ethnic minorities will be amended and the communities' property rights will be ensured through a reformation of the “Vested Property Act” within a fixed timeframe.

Special quotas will remain for the underprivileged and ethnic minorities in recruitment and admission to educational institutions.

Women's enrolment in higher education and recruitment in higher administrative positions will ensure their empowerment. Women's entrepreneurship will be encouraged through special banking services, easy access to loans and vocational training.

There will be equal wage for men and women, and every government institution will have a day-care centre while the allocation for programmes designed to combat discrimination will increase.

Considering around 70 percent of the voters are aged 35 or below and over two crore new names have been added to the voters' list since the 2008 election, the AL manifesto targets the youth.

The party aims to increase per capita income to over $5,479 by 2030, bring the poverty rate down to zero by 2041 and achieve nine percent GDP growth in the next 20 years.

Bangladesh will be a middle income country by 2021, upper middle income by 2030 and developed by 2041.

The number of people living in extreme poverty will come down to five percent and poverty to 12.3 percent.

Export earning, growth and investment will increase while the banking and financial sectors are developed and money laundering prevented.

Picking up from safe road protest a few months ago, the ruling Awami League has vowed to bring discipline in Dhaka’s transport sector.

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina said, if voted, her party will introduce modern bus services to curb indiscipline in Dhaka’s bus service.

Touching the pulse of the popular movement, which was one major flak Awami League drew ahead of the election, the party pledged more for the students.

Hasina said, her party will ensure overpass and underpass along all schools and educational institutions situated along the major roads and highways.

In its manifesto unveiled today, Awami League also pledged to construct a new international airport and promised to modernise and improve the existing airports.

Hasina spoke of introducing bullet trains in Dhaka and other divisional towns; and dredge the rivers and canals to increase their navigability and beautification.

The Awami League will expedite institutionalising democracy and strengthen the National Human Rights Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the mass media and the judiciary if voted to power for a third straight time.

"In the last 10 years, parliament was the centre of all state functions…. Initiatives will be taken to make the House more effective," said AL chief Sheikh Hasina, unveiling her party's election manifesto at a city hotel yesterday.

With some significant promises to ensure good governance made before the last two parliamentary elections still remaining on paper, the ruling party has now come up with fresh pledges to improve governance.

In its 21-point pledge, the AL also vows to show zero tolerance for corruption, make a stronger electoral system through reforms, alleviate poverty, create employments, ensure service-oriented and accountable administration, and put more focus on infrastructure development.

Just 11 days before the 11th parliamentary election, Hasina made an impassioned appeal to voters to view the mistakes she and her party colleagues made since taking office in 2009 with “kindness” and elect her party yet again.

"To err is human. My colleagues and I might have made mistakes while performing our duties. I, on behalf of myself and my party, fervently request the countrymen to look kindly on our mistakes," she told the programme attended by her party leaders, businesspersons, dignitaries and foreign diplomats.

"I promise to build a more beautiful future by learning from the past. We will build a non-communal golden Bangladesh free from hunger, poverty and illiteracy as cherished by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," she said.

Making an earnest request to the people to ensure AL's victory through a "ballot revolution", Hasina said, "Cast your vote for 'boat'. We will bring you development and prosperity…. Our victory is certain, God willing."

NEW PROMISES

The 2018 manifesto titled “Bangladesh on March towards Prosperity” focuses on 33 sectors to be dealt with two strategic plans -- the SDG and Delta Plan 2100.

The party eyes to increase the GDP growth to 10 percent from 7.8 percent at the moment in the next five years and bring down poverty rate to zero from about 22 percent now by 2041.

It will create jobs for 1.28 crore youths, with overseas jobs for 1,000 youths -- both male and female -- from each upazila, according to the manifesto.

Pointing to recent protest for safer roads, Hasina vowed to bring discipline in Dhaka's transport sector.

“If elected, we will introduce modern bus services to curb indiscipline in Dhaka's mass transport service,” she said. 

Also, modern civic amenities will be made available in every village, she added.

A national minority commission will be constituted to address issues related to ethnic groups, religious minorities and backward communities.

The manifesto also pledges to ensure media freedom and free flow of information.

"Effective measures will be taken to stop spread of fake news and unexpected rumours. Journalism and news media that promote social responsibilities will get assistance [from the government].

"A media friendly law will be formulated. There will be no misuse of any law against journalists and the mass media," Hasina said.

WHAT ABOUT PAST PROMISES?

In her address, the AL chief said the manifesto for the next parliamentary polls was in fact a continuation of her party's long-term plans outlined in the 2008 and 2014 manifestos.

However, after its 2008 win, the AL did not deliver on some of its vital pledges.

Before the election, it had pledged to appoint an Ombudsman, make public the wealth statements and sources of income of the prime minister, ministers and their close relatives every year. It also pledged to stop extra-judicial killings. But all of the pledges are unfulfilled.

Its pledge to take steps to inculcate tolerance and decency in politics also remains on paper to this day.

The AL also did not deliver on its 2008 promise to keep 100 parliamentary seats reserved for women with the provision for direct election.

In the run up to the 2014 election, the AL was silent on issues such as extra-judicial killings, the appointment of an Ombudsman and disclosure of wealth statements.

But it had pledged to make efforts to build national consensus among political parties and professionals on fundamental issues such as upholding democracy and unhindered development. But no such effort has been made.

Its pledge to make necessary laws and rules to ensure transparency in the performance of MPs in and outside parliament and their accountability to the people also remain unfulfilled.

Like in the past, the party in 2014 also spoke of taking measures to make parliament effective and strengthen institutions.

It also promised to strengthen the Election Commission by developing a strong electoral system through reforms.

But the current EC is finding it difficult to ensure a level playing field for the candidates in the December 30 polls.