Jatiya Oikya Front, the key political opposition in the 11th parliamentary election, is likely to publish its election manifesto next week, according to the coalition’s top leaders.
A six-member drafting committee is currently working on the draft of the manifesto, keeping in line with the seven demands and 11 goals it put forth when it was formed, as well as the Vision 2030 of BNP.
The core focus in the manifesto will be on establishing good governance and justice, ensuring freedom of speech and press, and eliminating political grouping in government administration, constitutional bodies and other organizations, said Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, a key leader of Oikya Front and one of the members in the drafting committee.
“The manifesto will include a framework on the decentralization of power, and will also focus on farmer-friendly agricultural policy, education policy and health policy,” said Zafrullah, also the founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra.
Once finished, the draft will be forwarded to Oikya Front’s steering committee, and can be published within a week, he added.
Zafrullah further added that the manifesto would contain the detailed plan of how the alliance plans to achieve its 11 goals.
BNP’s Vision 2030 aims at curbing the monolithic power of the prime minister through a constitutional amendment, decentralizing the government structure by breaking down the parliament into two Houses, establishing a system of checks and balances at the executive level, and formulating plans to improve education, healthcare, drug control, law enforcement and other vital sectors of the country, among other issues.
Beside Zafrullah, the drafting committee consists of BNP’s Mahfuz Ullah, Gono Forum’s AOM Shafiq Ullah, Nagorik Oikya’s Jahed Ur Rahman, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal’s Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan, and Krishak Sramik Janata League’s Iqbal Siddique.
Oikya Front was formed on October 13 with the aim to ensure a fair and credible election.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Oikya Front leader and Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain said the manifesto was being drafted with the input of neutral, civil society members and those who have made contributionstowards the country.
“Our manifesto will not be a typical one, but will be based on the problems that exists in the country. It’s high time that we brought changes in the country, andthat’s what will be highlighted in the manifesto,” he said.
“In the last 10 years under the current government, institutions have weakened. Institutions like Public Services Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission and other important organs of the state are now facing political grouping. It has made establishing good governance almost impossible. From the recruitment of teachers to doctors, grouping is everywhere,” said Kamal, eminent jurist and the co-author of the country’s constitution.
“Reform is necessary in these state organs, and Oikya Front will start it with the court,” he added.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune on condition of anonymity, a member of the drafting committee said the manifesto would also include a trial againstthe repression of minority communities, continuation of mega development projects, proposals on job creation, quota reforms, and raising the age limit for government job recruitment to 35 years.