Fakhrul Islam Alamgir The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) rolled out on Tuesday a 19-point manifesto with an avowed aim to implement it if voted to power in the general election.
The nationalist party made a pledge to form a national commission for introducing a political culture against politics of vengeance and revenge.
It would comprise the leader of the House, opposition leader and respected national personalities.
The body would work to reach a social consensus for creating a peaceful political climate in the country.
On behalf of the party's imprisoned chairperson Khaleda Zia, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir declared the charter of pledges at a city hotel.
To promote freedom of speech and expression, the BNP promised to scrap all black laws, including the Digital Security Act, Official Secrets Act and Special Powers Act.
It would not gag dissenting voice and would lift restrictions on social media to let people speak freely and ensure full criticism of politicians and their activities.
The party would also remove all barriers to freedom of information by amending the Right to Information Act.
The manifesto included bringing a balance of executive power between president and prime minister through amending the constitution.
The BNP also pledged to make a provision that nobody would hold the premiership for more than two consecutive terms.
It would amend article 70 of the constitution to ensure lawmakers' right to express independent opinions, deputy speaker's appointment from the opposition and introduce upper chamber in parliament.
The party pledged to provide allowance for educated unemployed, public services for 0.2 million people in first three years and generate 10 million new jobs in five years.
It also made a vow to act rightly to take overall economic growth to 11 per cent with enhancing export growth by three times.
The nationalist party vowed to wind up banking division under finance ministry and that the central bank would be empowered to operate and monitor state banks.
Like the Jatiya Oikya Front that BNP partners, it is committed to continuing the development work undertaken by the current government.
But it would form a committee to scrutinise the development activities taken urgently in the last two years of the present government's lifetime.
It, however, has not pledged to continue trial of war criminals unlike the Oikya Front's promise to do so.
If the BNP wins the 11th parliamentary polls, it would take efforts to scrutinise the growing expenses of mega projects and bring the wrongdoers to justice.
The manifesto stated that there would be no age limit for government jobs excepting entry into law-enforcement agencies.
The investigation reports regarding the BDR munity and Bangladesh Bank reserve heist would be made public before taking legal action against those responsible.
The lower court's control would be vested in the Supreme Court from the president, the manifesto stated.
The party, which ruled the nation for four terms, vowed to re-insert referendum in the constitution and appoint ombudsman.
It pledged to take measures to ensure accountability of law-enforcers and form an additional armed police battalion by changing existing structure of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
All forms of VAT (value added tax) on students would be lifted and legal charges against them filed during the recent anti-VAT, quota reform and road safety movements.
Regarding energy, the party pledged not to hike tariff on power and gas for households in the first two years of its tenure if the people vote them to power.
It would also take measure to remove all the inconsistencies in existing tariff structures.
Simultaneously, urgent steps would be taken to modernise decades-old power stations and lessen dependency on gas and furnace oil through promoting renewable and alternative energy options.
Other than raising institutional capacities, the BNP also promised to enhance risk allowances for police force and upgrade monthly salary of inspectors and sub-inspectors within six months of its tenure.
BNP standing committee members Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Nazrul Islam Khan and other senior leaders were present at the programme.
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