Awami League is formulating an election manifesto for the upcoming general election that will give priority to balanced development of the country, quality education and appropriate employment opportunities for the youth.
An Awami League sub-committee on its election manifesto, headed by its Presidium member Abdur Razzaque, will finalize its draft manifesto by Thursday, encompassing issues relating to economic growth and human resource development as the party plans to return to power for the third consecutive time.
Speaking to UNB, a committee member said there has been marked expansion of education in the country and now the ruling party wants to put emphasis on maintaining quality, so that students coming from various educational institutions can compete in the world arena efficiently and comfortably.
He also mentioned that the government will focus on creating employment opportunities for the youths and vocational training for them in addition to encouraging female entrepreneurship.
“The draft is ready, we will finalize it on Thursday,” Awami League Deputy Office Secretary Biplob Barua told UNB over phone on Sunday.
Once finalized, he said, the draft election manifesto will be given to party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina any day after Thursday.
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Responding to a query, the deputy office secretary said the election manifesto will be announced by the party chief.
Other members of the committee include Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman, prime minister's Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam, Premier University Vice Chancellor (VC) and Awami League Adviser Dr Anupam Sen, former Dhaka University VC AAMS Arefin Siddique and Awami League Organizing Secretary Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel.
According to sources at the sub-committee, Awami League will unveil a pro-youth election manifesto ahead of the 11th national election which is scheduled to be held on December 30.
The ruling party believes that young voters will be the determining factor in the coming election.
In the draft manifesto, the Awami League sub-committee is highlighting major development projects the government has implemented since 2009.
“There will be a guideline on the projects that remained unimplemented during its last two tenures,” a member of the sub-committee said.
According to him, the manifesto will also focus on the shortcomings in various sectors to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country by 2041.
“We have identified the sectors that should have been prioritized to make the country a developed one by 2041,” he said.
He said the money coming from the revenue sector should not be utilized in only urban areas and rural areas should get equal importance when it comes to development.
He said that Sheikh Hasina always puts emphasis on making the rural areas as developed as the urban ones through providing civic amenities, including planned housing, gas, power, water supply, sanitation system and waste management.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will get special attention in the manifesto and a number of SDG issues will get preference. There will also be emphasis on the blue economy.
The development of the information technology and mineral sectors will be prioritized, said the sources.
