New Delhi: The safety and security of minorities was among the focus areas as Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League released its manifesto Wednesday for the country’s 12th national election next month.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unveiled the manifesto in Dhaka with the slogan: “Smart Bangladesh: Visible Development, Increased Employment”.
If voted back to power, the Awami League has promised to set up a national minority commission, and enact a special law to safeguard the interests of minority communities.
The party, the manifesto says, will continue to take steps to ensure the safety and livelihood of religious and ethnic minorities, and underprivileged communities.
The manifesto refers to the “brutal attacks” and “discrimination” faced by religious and ethnic minorities during the tenure of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-Jamaat-e-Islami alliance government, noting that many were killed and raped, while others had their lands and businesses snatched away.
The Awami League has promised to complete the judicial process for these cases and prevent their recurrence.
The Awami League has said it will “continue with its policy of ending terror, discriminatory behaviour, and human rights violations of religious and ethnic minorities”, adding that it will “ensure the protection of their lives, properties, dignity, and equal rights in all spheres of public and private lives”.
Other focus areas of the manifesto include infrastructure development, freedom of the press, and transparency, accountability and good governance, besides “strengthened democratic values in all aspects of state management”.
The ruling party has promised to be tough on money launderers, and to eradicate bribery and corruption at all levels of society and government. Key promises include the establishment of a universal health system, and introduction of government-sponsored health insurance.
Addressing the event, Hasina said “Bangladesh will be established as a high-middle-income country by 2031 and a developed, prosperous, smart one by 2041” if the Bangladesh Awami League is voted back to power.
“We are responsible for all the mistakes during the last 15 years. Success is yours. Look at our mistakes with a forgiving eye,” she added. “We promise to learn from past mistakes and conduct future activities according to your expectations.”
Hasina said today’s Bangladesh is “a ‘changed Bangladesh’”.
“Bangladesh is now a fast-paced country moving forward with its potential. Minor setbacks cannot hinder our economic progress today,” she said.
Special focus on Dalits and transgenders
The Awami League manifesto promises to improve the living standards of socially marginalised groups like the Dalits and transgenders, vowing to bring programmes aimed at accelerating their integration into the mainstream.
The manifesto says these groups will be given vocational training to enhance their skills, in order to give them a means to generate income.
Financial assistance and housing programmes for the underprivileged, it adds, will be expanded nationwide.
The manifesto says the transgender community forms a small part of Bangladesh’s total population, and has been isolated in society through the country’s history.
The Awami League has promised to protect the fundamental rights of transgenders, and ensure social justice, along with improvements in education, housing, and social security.
Special provisions and opportunities will continue for the education and employment of children of underprivileged ethnic minorities and tea-garden workers, the party has said, adding that the government encourages the preservation of diverse customs and traditions.
Referring to the ‘Father of the Nation’, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the manifesto notes that he recognised equal rights and dignity of all communities, including ethnic and religious minorities, in the constitution.
In line with this, the Awami League has promised to eradicate discriminatory behaviour against these communities and improve their living standards.
In Bangladesh, it adds, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and others can freely practise their religion.
The Awami League, the manifesto says, is determined to make Bangladesh smart, free from dogmatism and anchored in harmony.
The Bangladesh national election is scheduled to be held on 7 January 2024.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
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