Islami Andolan Bangladesh on Wednesday unveiled its election manifesto, titled “Jonoprattyashar Istahar” (Manifesto of Public Expectation), pledging to prioritize Shariah across all aspects of state governance if voted to power in the 13th national parliamentary election.
The party announced a 30-point core manifesto, alongside 12 special programs, eight policy positions, six proposals for state reform, and 28 sector-wise development plans, aiming to establish what it described as a corruption-free, welfare-oriented, and just state.
The manifesto was formally declared at the party’s central office in Purana Paltan, Dhaka, by its Ameer, Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, popularly known as the Charmonai Pir, in the presence of senior party leaders.
Addressing the program, Rezaul Karim said: “The manifesto of Islami Andolan Bangladesh is a pledge to the nation. If we come to state power with your support, Islami Andolan Bangladesh will remain firmly committed to implementing every clause of this manifesto.”
Core pledges
At the heart of the manifesto is the commitment to ensure the supremacy of Shariah in state administration, which the party claims will ensure “permanent peace” and the “overall liberation of humanity.”
Among the 30 core pledges are promises to transform politics, eliminate corruption, misrule, terrorism, extortion, land grabbing, and drug abuse, and establish a welfare state based on equality, human dignity, good governance, and justice.
Key pledges include:
- Creating an unemployment- and poverty-free country through agricultural and industrial revolutions
- Introducing a morality-driven, work-oriented, and science-based education system
- Ensuring universal employment and phased state reforms
- Upholding the spirit of the Liberation War and the July mass uprising
- Strengthening financial, military, and diplomatic capacities
- Protecting the fundamental and human rights of women, workers, and marginalized communities
- Eliminating social and economic discrimination
- Ensuring affordable and quality healthcare for all
- Addressing environmental pollution, disaster management, and climate change impacts
Political and electoral reforms
The party pledged to abolish enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, false and “ghost” cases, oppression, and misrule, while ensuring freedom of expression and the safety and independence of the media.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh also committed to implementing the proportional representation (PR) system to guarantee fair public representation, credible elections, and an effective parliament. The manifesto further promises to bar individuals involved in corruption, terrorism, murder, and immoral professions from politics.
Women’s rights and economic commitments
The party reiterated that women would not only receive equal rights but also “priority” in various sectors, alongside ensuring religious freedom, security, and peaceful coexistence for all communities.
Economic pledges include providing loans and uninterrupted gas, electricity, and water supply to industrial entrepreneurs; introducing one-stop services for import-export activities; nationalizing all educational institutions; recognizing Qawmi madrasa certificates in full; and ensuring dignified employment opportunities for qualified Islamic scholars in state institutions.
Other commitments include ensuring workers’ rights and dignity, controlling soaring commodity prices by breaking illegal syndicates, making roads safer, and transforming Bangladesh into a developed welfare state within 15 years.
Special programs
The party also announced 12 special programs aimed at immediate public welfare, including:
- Monthly cash assistance of Tk5,000 for extremely poor and vulnerable groups
- Free nutritious meals for primary-level students
- Interest-free, collateral-free one-time loans for youths aged 18–24
- Universal health protection through health cards
- Introduction of agricultural cards for subsidized inputs and services
- Launch of a national job portal for domestic and overseas employment
- Establishment of daycare centers for working mothers
- Government-regulated, franchise-based bus services in Dhaka and other cities
- A service-oriented taxation system
- Housing facilities for female garment workers
- Ensuring uninterrupted citizen services
- Full implementation of Qawmi certificate recognition and appointment of qualified Islamic scholars to state positions
Sector-wise development plans
The party’s 28 sector-wise plans cover economic growth, inflation control, foreign debt management, financial governance, investment promotion, public security, citizen-friendly urban and rural development, education reform, youth employment, entrepreneurship, integrated agricultural modernization, migrant welfare, affordable healthcare, regional development, tourism, transport connectivity, energy security, environmental protection, housing and public works, sanitation, water management, local government strengthening, climate change response, disaster management, and the values of the Liberation War and July mass uprising.
Rezaul also said: “Through elections, the leadership of the state and its policy direction are determined. Ahead of an election, a manifesto is presented to the nation to outline a party’s principles, vision, and roadmap for nation-building.”
