A platform of six political parties, Ganatantra Mancha presented its 14-point proposal at a press conference on December 12, 2022. Apart from its call for the resignation of the then-Awami League government, the platform touched upon all important issues to build a nation free from fascism and corruption.
The 13 other proposals were as follows:
- Formation of an interim government for free, impartial, democratic and credible national elections, abolishing the current Election Commission and restructuring it into an acceptable independent and neutral institution, ensuring a “level playing field” in elections, stopping game and nomination trading, revising the Representation of the People Order (RPO), and making necessary administrative changes, ensuring fair voting system through paper ballots by abolishing Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) system and abolishing party symbols in local government elections.
- Establishing a balance of power between the Parliament, the executive and the judiciary branches, establishing the Ombudsman and the Constitutional Court, reforming Article 70 of the Constitution and giving an opportunity to give an independent opinion on all bills except for the vote of confidence in the formation of the government and the passing of the budget, introducing proportional electoral system and bicameral parliament system along with direct elections and establish rational balance of powers between Prime Minister and President, and reforming the laws on government accounts and financial control institutions.
-Unconditional release of all political prisoners, including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, not to create any obstacles in all political activities, including meetings, gatherings, and processions, as a constitutional right, and to consider police obstruction, attacks, arrests, and false cases in the programs of the opposition party as illegal.
-Repeal basic restrictive laws, including the Digital Security Act-2018 and the Special Powers Act 1974, and stop the harassment of labor activists in the name of industrial policing.
-On an urgent basis, the price of daily necessities to be brought within the purchasing power of common people, and rationing system and cash payment system to be introduced for the poor and people with limited income; canceling government decisions of arbitrary price increases in service sectors including gas, electricity, energy, water and canceling the exemption law given in the rental-quick rental project; ensuring road safety, availability of public transport and reasonable limits of bus fare.
-Taking appropriate disciplinary action against those responsible for money laundering, and destroying the banking sector and the stock market, and seizing illegally acquired assets and recovering laundered money.
-Rescuing all missing citizens and stopping extrajudicial killings.
-Taking action against vandalism of houses, businesses, and temples, and occupation of the properties of religious minorities and Adivasis.
-Reorganizing the health sector based on “no death without treatment” policy and taking necessary reform steps to increase state participation and rein in profits in the private sector.
-On the basis of the principle of “education is a right, not a commercial commodity”, equal quality of education will be ensured for all, education in mother tongue will be given priority, and at least 6% of GDP will be allocated to health and education sectors.
-Multifaceted measures will be taken to create an enabling environment for public and private investment and increase employment opportunities and self-employment of the unemployed.
-Ensuring fair prices of farmers' crops, dignified living wages for workers and trade union rights, and opening closed factories, including jute mills and sugar mills.
-Ensuring national interest, sovereignty and security, and resolving bilateral issues following equality, fairness, recognition of mutual interests and recognized international norms.
31-point proposal
On July 12, 2023, the Ganatantra Mancha outlined a 31-point proposal for democratic reforms to the constitution at a press conference at the National Press Club. The BNP announced its 31-point reform proposal the following day.
Some of the new proposals are as follows:
-No one can be prime minister for more than two consecutive terms.
-Ensuring justice for journalists who were tortured and killed, including journalist couple Maasranga Television news editor Sagar Sarowar and his wife ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Runi.
-Forming a Media Commission composed of Supreme Court justices, media professionals and esteemed media personalities to ensure media freedom.
