Bangladesh
Nationalist Party
BNP
Chairperson Khaleda Zia announced her party’s 32-pt election manifesto
on September 7.
Highlights
of BNP manifesto
-
A
500-strong parliament and increased reserved seats for women
-
Three
new ministries for freedom fighters, expatriates, and garments
-
Special
court in every district for speedy trial of criminals
-
Independent
Anti-Corruption Commission with neutral persons
-
Disclosure
of wealth of PM, ministers, MPs and others
-
Separation
of the judiciary from the executive
-
No
anti-Islamic law and close ties with Muslim countries
-
Autonomy
of state-run radio and television
-
State
patronisation for making local industries profitable
-
Permanent
Pay Commission
-
Changes
in the Ganges water-sharing treaty and fresh solution to CHT crisis
-
Zila
Parishad, Upazila Parishad and Gram Sarkar
-
Internet
village with skilled IT experts
-
Nationalisation
of all non-government primary schools
To
eliminate corruption, an Ombudsman will be appointed "in the shortest
possible time", the Anti-Corruption Bureau will be recast and a
"constitutional, independent and autonomous Anti-Corruption
Commission" will be set up. Besides government officials, the
commission will also include other people.
"The
Commission would not be under the Prime Minister's Office or any other
controlling authority. It would be completely independent," she
added.
She
said assets and property of all people's representatives, the prime
minister, ministers and others of equal rank and status will be made
public.
Women
and Parliament
The
BNP Chairperson said the number of seats in parliament will be raised to
500. Women's seats will also be increased and they will be directly
elected.
It
has become necessary to increase parliament seats due to increase in
population.
Replying
to a question in this regard, she said BNP and other component parties of
the four-party alliance would be able to amend the Constitution to
increase parliament seats.
"We
are hopeful of getting two-thirds majority in parliament. If we do not get
absolute majority, we will seek opposition's support and I hope they will
support the initiative in the interest of democracy".
About
the number of women's seats in a 500-member parliament, she said it might
be 64 for all the 64 districts. "But we have kept the option open
because we want to finalise it through discussion."
Electricity
The
BNP Chairperson said if voted to power, her party would take up an
"Electricity for All" programme, expand activities of Rural
Electrification Board to bring more rural areas under power supply and
reduce system loss in urban areas by improving management in the sector.
Exemption
of religious institutions from electricity charges will continue.
Judiciary
and Administration
She
said Awami League in its last five years' rule politicised the
administration and undermined the judiciary.
"We
will separate the judiciary from the executive and ensure independence of
the judiciary. No law contrary to Islam would be formulated."
Appointment,
promotion and posting will be on the basis of merit, skill and experience.
Media
She
said the state-controlled Radio and Television will be given "real
autonomy" and "responsible" Radio, TV and newspaper in the
private sector will be encouraged.
Job
Creation
The
private sector will be treated as the main driving force for development
and protection will be given to domestic industries, she said. Training
facilities for unemployed youths will be increased and steps will be taken
to send more people abroad.
Appeals
of government employees victimised during Awami League rule will be
considered.
Permanent
Pay Commission
A
permanent pay commission for government employees will be constituted so
that their salaries and allowances can be re-fixed automatically with
increase in cost of living. National minimum wages will be fixed.
Formation
of New Ministries
Khaleda
Zia said a separate ministry will be set up for welfare of freedom
fighters and their families. More freedom fighters will be involved in
nation building activities and steps will be taken to enhance their social
dignity, she said.
A
ministry will be created for growth of the readymade garments sector. A
separate division or a ministry will be set up for expatriate
Bangladeshis, she pledged.
Besides
steps for rapid industralisation, more export processing zones will be set
up in different parts of the country to attract foreign investment.
"Our
main target is self-reliance and economic emancipation of the people. We
will not take any foreign loan which goes against national interest"
Education,
IT and Telecom sectors
She
said if elected, her party would give top priority to development of IT
sector. Initiative would be taken to take Bangladesh on the 'information
highway' and an Internet Village would be set up for building skilled IT
workforce.
The
education sector will get the highest budgetary allocation. All
non-government primary schools will be nationalised and government
contribution to salaries of teachers and employees of private high
schools, colleges and madsassahs will be increased to 100 per cent.
Defence
and Foreign Policy
Defence
forces would be modernised and equipped to cope with the geo-political
reality.
"We
will build good relation with all countries on the basis of sovereignty
and by following nonaligned foreign policy. We will try to build friendly
relations with all countries of this region, especially with our close
neighbours, and further strengthen relations with Muslim countries,"
she said.
Khaleda
Zia said initiatives will be taken to resolve border problems, realise
legitimate share of waters of all international rivers and to stop
smuggling and cross-border terrorism through dialogue.
Initiative
will be taken for necessary amendments to the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty,
signed by the Awami League government.
"We
will not allow any country to use Bangladesh's land, water, sea and air
space for military purposes".
She
said the CHT accord signed by AL government has totally failed to bring
peace and stability in the hill tracts. All out efforts will be made to
resolve the CHT problem within the framework of the Constitution through
dialogue.
Local
Government
Khaleda
Zia said Zila and Upazila parishads will be strengthened and Gram Sarkar
will be re-introduced to accelerate development.
Gas
sector
About
gas sector, the BNP Chairperson said her party, if elected, will give top
priority to national interest. Supply of gas across the country and
setting up of gas- based industries would be ensured.
Replying
to a question, she said export of gas would be considered after meeting
domestic demand and setting up gas based industries. "If export of
gas becomes necessary, we will discuss with all and transparency would be
maintained."
