Highlighting its aim to make a much safer and prosperous Bangladesh, Zaker Party has announced a 41-point manifesto for the upcoming general election, hoping that at least 30 of its candidates will win in their respective constituencies.
The party’s top priority is to improve the law and order situation by modernizing the agencies concerned and ensuring coordination among them.It also promised to eradicate organized crimes, including terrorism, from the country.
The party chief, Pirzada Alhaj Khwaja Mostafa Amir Faisal Mujaddedi, read out the manifesto at a hotel in Dhaka on Thursday.
Party's Senior Vice-Chairman Sayem Amir Faisal Mujaddedi and Acting General Secretary Ezazur Rasul, among others, were also present at the event.
With the allocated polls symbol “rose”, the party had primarily fielded 108 candidates in as many constituencies for the polls slated for December 30. But the number of its aspirants fell to 90 after the Election Commission scrutinized the nomination papers of the selected hopefuls.
Faisal said: “We are optimistic about better results in the election. Our candidates in at least 30 seats, including some in Dhaka, may come out as winners.”
On a separate note, he said the party is ready to appear as a much stronger opposition in the House if only the BNP-led Jatiya Oikya Front pulls out of the election in a last-minute change of plan.
The upcoming election is most important since the one held in 1970,with many foreign nations keeping an eye on it due to Bangladesh’s geographical and economic status, he maintained, adding that some of the countries will evaluate Bangladesh’s growth as well-wishers.
“Some others will be waiting for the polls results with a negative mindset,” he warned.
The party’s second promise focuses on healthcare for the general people and plans to introduce a national health insurance scheme.
In the third pledge, the party vowed to abolish capital punishment and ensure upgrading family and social status of transgenders.
The fifth point says the party, if voted to power, will ensure representation of all the registered political parties in the parliament.
It also pledges to introduce referendum on any national crisis or important issue.
According to its ninth pledge, the party promises to provide security to girls and women through community policing, and reduce the number of trafficking victims.
Safe potable water, free of cost, will be made available for all, the 11th pledge says.
In its 18th point, the party promises that it will keep start-up companies free from taxation for the first three years of their business.
Zaker Party, as per the 26th pledge, will handle the Rohingya issue with Myanmar more carefully and take measures so such a problem does not repeat. It will also extend its helping hand to help resolve the Assam crisis.
If it assumes office, the party will recruit at least 172,000 community policemen in 86,000 villages, says the 27th pledge.
In the next two pledges that focus on safe borders with neighbouring countries and sharing water of common rivers, the party promises measures to help stop border killings and get a fair share of water from trans-boundary rivers.
The 36th pledge says the party will try amending the existing electoral laws so that anyone on becoming an adult (18 years) can vie for an election.
EC is not beyond debate
Replying to a query about several political parties and alliances criticizing the Election Commission over a level playing field, Faisal said discussions on the commission is nothing new.
“It has not grown as a complete institution yet. The Election Commission is yet to become independent as it is grappling with manpower shortage, poor logistic support and infrastructural capacity,” he observed.
“That is why it has to rely on the administration (during polls),” he said, expecting the commission to act impartially during the 11th parliamentary election.
Stating that the election is going to be held under a partisan government, Faisal said: “It is a matter to be observed how neutrally the EC functions.”
Key pledges
1. Improving law and order situation by modernizing the agencies concerned and coordinating among them
2. Introducing a national health insurance
3. Abolishing the death penalty, and upgrading family and social status of transgender people
4. Ensuring participation of all the registered political parties in the House
5.Introduction of referendum on any national crisis or important issue
6. Providing security to girls and women through community policing
7. Safe potable water, free of cost, to be made available for all
8. Keeping start-up companies free from taxation for the first three years of their business
9. Dealing with the Rohingya issue with Myanmar more carefully and helping resolve the Assam crisis
10. Announcing three types of pay structures for workers
11. Recruiting at least 172,000 community policemen in 86,000 villages
12. Taking measures to stop border killings and get fair share of water from trans-boundary rivers
13. Move to amend existing electoral laws so anyone on reaching 18 years of age can run in an election
14. Protecting local culture from foreign cultural aggression
15. Changing the negative mindset on religious minorities