BNP promises cut in food prices, to curb graft and terrorism

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Hospital Managing Committee President Lion Jiten Lal Bhowmik handing over documents of hospital ward dedication to the hospital committee.

Immediate-past premier Khaleda Zia announced her party's election manifesto to seek re-election at the December 29 polls with the clarion call 'Save the Country, Save the People" from what she said a deep crisis stemming from two years of misrule in the interim period, report agencies.
The BNP chairperson, who recently came out from prison and who dismisses the 1/11 changeover as a 'conspiracy', made a fresh pledge to bring down food prices, stamp out corruption and terrorism and build a modern Bangladesh if returned to power.
In her 36-point manifesto announced at Hotel Sheraton's Winter Garden on Saturday afternoon, she focused on increased food production by giving subsidy on agriculture inputs, sealing off sources of corruption, effective steps to expand industry, trade and export, quick measures to solve problems in electricity, coal, gas and energy sector and creation of employment, particularly in rural areas.
Ten main points of the BNP's election manifesto are:
* A national employment project will be taken to ensure that at least one member of a family gets permanent work.
* A programme to ensure that people do not suffer from food insecurity due to flood, drought or natural disaster and the prices of food remain within the grasp of the people.
* For modernisation and development of agricultural, new technology will be implemented and all efforts will be taken to increase production rate.
* Managing committee/governing body will be formed to keep the education sector free of political influence.
* Doctors, nurses and technologists will be given special training so that there will be improved health care facilities in the country.
* Anticorruption commission will be given the chance to work neutrally and independently and we will take the assistance of the people, media and elected local government bodies to create an awareness against corruption.
* Facilities to inspire expatriates to invest in Bangladesh and invest in local industries
* There will be participation in international efforts to save the earth from global warming and climate change.
* Women involved in business will be given loan on low interest and in job sectors women will be given preference in appointment and promotion
* Malicious attempts to label Bangladesh an intolerant, extremist and radical country will be effectively prevented
Khaleda also stressed effective parliament, responsible political environment, understanding among the state and social forces, capable and neutral administration, independent judiciary, farsighted foreign policy and pro-people administration.
She also emphasised protecting independence and sovereignty, freeing the country from curse of corruption, poverty alleviation, halting uptrend of prices of essentials, development of human resources, generation of employment and spreading education, improvement of health services and expansion of communications and infrastructure, establishment of good governance and justice, and guaranteeing fundamental rights of the people irrespective of religion and colour.
In her 80-minute election speech, Khaleda urged the people to imbibe the spirit of the great liberation war and elect the BNP-led four-party alliance which she said is a "symbol of patriotic and nationalist forces".
Apart from party leaders, diplomats, business leaders and civil-society members were present.
Khaleda pledged to bring every citizen under the literacy program within next five years and keep the educational institutions free from politics.
She proposed to form a consultative committee with competent and experienced people within 100 days to introduce a pro-people education system. She promised to expand free education for female students up to Degree level.
The BNP poll pledges also include setting up more than one IT cities outside Dhaka. Besides, e-park and education park will be established.
Khaleda announced that health insurance would be announced for the poor people in phases and unemployment allowance for disabled persons.
Her pledges include encouraging local and foreign investments and offering incentives for investment by Non-Resident Bangladeshis, expanding micro-credit scheme to engage the poor in productive work, offering bank loans to women entrepreneurs at low interests, construction of underground railway or elevated monorail in the capital, Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane motorway and deep-sea port.
Turning to the power-hungry power sector, Khaleda said the projects which were approved by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and Japan and those projects in the pipeline would be implemented.
Within 100 days of forming the government, she will complete re-tender process for setting up 450MW plant at Bibiana and 450MW in Sirajganj.
She also promised to set up nuclear power plant for generation of power.
The former Prime Minister said if elected, her government would ensure a transparent and accountable administration free from all political interference.
"Appointment, promotion and postings will be done on the basis of merit, competence and experience," she said in her televised manifesto speech.
In the defence sector, she said the Armed Forces would be further strengthened with modern training, technology and equipment. Appointment and promotion in the Defence sector will be accomplished based on "merit, skills, competence, character and seniority".
She promised to ensure full independence of the judiciary with a separate Secretariat established under the Supreme Court. She noted that the Chief Justice's opinion would be given priority in appointing judges of the higher court.
Against the backdrop of nagging past standoff and recurrent crises in the polity, Khaleda promised in her poll recipe bipartisan initiative to resolve national issues, appointing deputy speaker from the opposition in parliament and canceling membership if an MP remains absent for more than 30 days without the sanction of parliament.
"The speaker and the deputy speaker must quit their parties voluntarily. Members of Parliament must submit their statements of wealth within 30 days of taking oath," she said.
Khaleda promised to scrap the controversial Special Powers Act 1974 and assist the National Human Rights Commission in protecting human rights.
She announced that stringent steps would be taken to thwart any evil design to disrupt communal harmony. She also pledged to improve the lifestyle and livelihood of the people in the hill tracts and protect the culture of tribal people.
She committed to constituting a national consultative committee to seek opinion and advice from experienced people at home and abroad in various sectors--from education to state security, improving law and order, and combat against terrorism.
The former Prime Minister was critical about the rule of the incumbent caretaker government, saying that the nation was ditched into "darkness" recently.
"A way out must be found and all will have to make all-out effort to do it," she said about what she indicated a national salvation effort.
Regarding health she said, "The national health policy will be modernised and gradually health insurance will be introduces for insolvent citizens."
Doctors, technologists, nurses will be given overseas training and facilities will be provided for the tax free import of medical equipment, said the former prime minister.
With the slogan 'Save the country, save the people', the manifesto promises a responsible and accountable political system, and a focus on food security and education and employment generation.
Development of the private sector and balance in trade, along with a national energy policy and strengthening communications networks were also among the election pledges.
The former prime minister also mentioned anti-terrorism measures and an independent Anticorruption Commission that was "free of influence".
On food security, the emphasis was on agro-subsidies, assisting farmers with purchase of seeds and fertilisers. "We will ensure that farmers are able to get the right price for commodities and that they do not have to pay excess to purchase materials," the BNP chief said.
On energy security, she pledged: "To ensure the optimum usage of oil and gas by preserving the interest of the country, a national advisory committee will be formed and in accordance to its advice, a national energy policy will be made."
On accountable politics, the former prime minister vowed: "To ensure good governance and to take power to the people, administration will be decentralised."
Also among her party's pledges: "Malicious attempts to label Bangladesh an intolerant, extremist and radical country will be effectively prevented".