Jatiya Oikya Front leader Dr Kamal Hossain speaking at a press conference in the city on Monday before the launch of the political alliance's election manifesto — FE photo Jatiya Oikya Front (JOF), an alliance of opposition political parties, on Monday unveiled its election manifesto attaching priority to at least 14 major national issues.
It promised to remove age bar for government jobs except those in police and army, strike a balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister, provide for an election-time government, and annul the controversial Digital Security Act 2018.
In the 35-point manifesto, the JoF also pledged to constitute a 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission', continue war crimes trial and development projects, halt forced disappearance, and provide health cards to all citizens.
The alliance, led by Gono Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain, that brought together the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Nagorik Oikya, placed the manifesto at a hotel in the city's Dilkusha, Motijheel.
Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, also a key leader of JOF, read out the manifesto where senior leaders of the JOF were present.
Dr Kamal Hossain delivered an introductory statement at the programme while BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) president Abdul Kader Siddique, JSD president ASM Abdur Rob and Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury were present, among others.
Manna said, the JoF, if voted to power in the upcoming general election, will establish a 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission' with educationists, social workers and lawyers.
The commission will act to settle fabricated and false cases filed against opposition leaders only for harassing them and deal with the cases of forced disappearances, extra judicial killings before compensating the victims' families, he said.
"The political alliance will fully stop extra-judicial killings and forced disappearance to ensure freedom of expression and security of people's life," Mr. Manna said.
On the issue of employment, he said there will be no age limit to join the government services except for those belonging to police and armed forces. Quota system will exist only for underprivileged sections and physically challenged people.
All the government recruitments will be held under Public Services Commission (PSC) by increasing its workforce and logistics. Besides, major government recruitment exams will be taken place at divisional level, the manifesto said.
All vacant posts in government services will be filled up within the next five years, JOF's manifesto added.
JOF will introduce unemployment allowance for jobless persons aged above 30 and will form a commission to examine the country's capability for the idea.
Madrassa students will be trained with technical education so that they can be employed abroad.
Primary Education Completion Certificate exam for class five students and Junior School Certificate exam for class eight students will be cancelled.
On the striking a balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister, the manifesto said this was necessary to maintain a check and balance in the country's administration..
As part 0f the move, it said, none will be allowed to hold the office of the Prime Minister for more than two consecutive terms. At the same time, it has a plan to create an upper house in parliament.
The alliance also pledged to prepare a structure of election-time government through dialogue with all stakeholders and allow the Election Commission to run independently. It will also bring reforms in the existing Representation of the People's Order (RPO).
In the manifesto, the JOF leaders made a commitment to scrap the Digital Security Act 2018 to ensure freedom of expression and there will be no direct or indirect state control on media while general people will not face any government restriction in the use social media.
Terming the recent students' protest over road safety a justified move, the JOF leaders said it will try the people who were responsible for attacks on the students.
It also promised to continue the key development works undertaken by the current government in the coming years.
However, it said that a committee will be formed to scrutinise the development activities taken urgently in the last two years of the present government.
The JoF emphatically said that it will continue trial of the war crimes and effort will be taken to make an accurate list of freedom fighters by delisting the fake ones.
In the health sector, it will work to convert 31-bed Upazila health complex into 50 bed hospitals, deploy intern doctors mandatorily in rural areas for one year, establish Ombudsman for discipline in health sector and introduce health cards for all citizens.
Regarding wage of workers, it pledged to re-fix wages in every sector and enhance the minimum wage for apparel workers to Tk 12,000 within the first two years of the JoF government.
About banking sector, the alliance said stern actions against the people involved in the plunder of banks' funds will be taken along with efforts for prompt recovery of bad loans.
JOF promised that gas and electricity tariffs will not be increased within the first one year if they come to state power.
Gono Forum executive president Subrata Chowdhury, its general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu and JOF leader Reza Kibria were also present at the programme.
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