The Jatiya Party (JaPa) in its election manifesto has said it will make changes to the current unitary state system and divide the country into eight provinces for better governance and decentralization.
JaPa Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Thursday afternoon announced the party’s 24-point manifesto for the upcoming 12th national parliament election scheduled for January 7.
Other than the introduction of provincial governments, the pledges made by JaPa include the reformation of the electoral system, ensuring the independence of the judiciary and employment for the youth.
Chunnu said there will be a two-tier government structure–the central government will be the federal government, made up of the 300 seats of parliament. Meanwhile, the provincial governments will have provincial parliaments, with each upazila or thana being considered a seat of those parliaments.
The eight divisions will get an upgrade and become provinces, according to JaPa’s plans. Their names would be North Bengal Province, Barenya Province, Jahangirnagar Province, Jalalabad Province, Jahanabad Province, Chandradeep Province, Mainamati Province and Chattala Province.
“A radical reform of the administrative system is a big task. However, we think it is possible to fully implement the provincial system within five years. We will present to the countrymen an outline of the basic idea of the introduction of a provincial government system.”
Chunnu earlier this month said his party would contest the election from 283 constituencies as part of its efforts to make the election more competitive and meaningful.
The ruling Awami League has given up 26 seats for JaPa for the election.
Opposition leader and JaPa Chief Patron Raushan Ershad and Raushan’s son, Rahgir Al Mahi (Saad) Ershad, are not in the election race this time.
