Jamaat manifesto prioritises state reforms, credible polls, stronger local govt

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has announced his party’s manifesto ahead of the 12 February general elections, highlighting state reforms, credible polls, good governance, improved local government and a corruption-free country.

Shafiqur read out highlights of the 90-page document at a hotel in the capital on Wednesday.

The Islamist party has included eight categories and 41 sub-categories in the document dubbed “People’s Manifesto.” Opinions of 37 lakh people have been considered for the manifesto, Jamaat leaders have said.

At the manifesto announcement event, a large number of foreign diplomats as well as politicians and eminent personalities were present.

As per the manifesto, if elected, Jamaat would make military service compulsory for six months to one year for all men and women aged 18-22 years. The party would also set up a dedicated “National Military Research Institute” to advance the country’s defence research and improvement initiatives.

It would also give national interests and sovereignty priority above all.

Among the 26 priorities notable are pro-democratic aspects: giving priority to youths in the country’s leadership positions, ensuring civic rights for all irrespective of majority-minority dynamic, ensuring special provisions for disadvantaged individuals and backward communities, ensuring safe and inclusive participation of women in state affairs, and ensuring transparency and accountability in all levels of the government.

There are measures for people facing economic hardships: introduction of a universal healthcare system, gradually making advanced medical treatment completely free for poor people, ensuring low-cost accommodation for low- and middle-income people, gradually making education cost-free, gradually bringing every citizen under an international-standard social safety net and reducing consumer inflation to tolerable level, among others.

The manifesto also outlines plans for overhauling the educational system from the root to cater to global demands, revamping the road communication system to reduce overland travel to Dhaka from all the divisional cities to maximum three hours,

The party has also addressed climate change concerns: a green and clean Bangladesh will be built by 2030 through the realisation of “three zeroes vision.”

It also envisions building a smart and tech-based modern society, introducing technology in the agriculture sector, developing the small and medium sized enterprises, and building a business-friendly environment for local and foreign investors.