Price control, food self sufficiency, graft control among main goals

---

Awami League (AL), if voted to power, will give priority on five main areas which include reining in the prices of essentials, combating corruption, promoting energy security, alleviating poverty and ensuring good governance, report agencies.
Announcing the AL election manifesto -- 'Charter of Change' -- at Winter Garden of Hotel Sheraton in the city on Friday, the party President and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: "The country is now passing through a deep crisis. Our commitment is to build Bangladesh as a modern democracy, which will be prosperous and free from hunger, poverty and illiteracy".
She said her party prepared the manifesto as a "charter of change" to secure the goals in two phases- one is a five-year plan and the other is a vision for, up to 2021 when the nation would celebrate its golden jubilee of independence.
The AL manifesto, thus, contains two parts -- pragmatic commitment for next five years and Vision 2021.
Sheikh Hasina said all the commitments made through the manifesto would be implemented if Awami League-led 'Mohajote' (Grand Alliance) is voted to power.
Sheikh Hasina declared the AL's election pledges to make Bangladesh a prosperous nation free from hunger, poverty and illiteracy, amid cheers and clappings by the supporters of the party.
The election pledges of the AL are as follows:
* Prices of rice, pulses, edible oil and other necessities will be reduced and brought within the purchasing power of the people;
* Syndicates that keep the prices high will be dismantled;
* A taskforce, along with a centre for collection and analysis of data, will be set up expeditiously to help cope with the global economic downturn;
* Within the five years, self-reliance in food production will be achieved;
* The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will be further strengthened to combat corruption for establishing a corruption-free society;
* Agriculture and rural development will be given the highest priority through policy instruments for eradicating poverty. The innovative programmes undertaken earlier by Awami League will be reactivated and new projects, will be undertaken, alongwith measures for ensuring food security for the ultra-poor;
* A comprehensive employment policy, consistent with the dignity of the citizens, will be adopted;
* Power generation of 5,000 megawatt will be ensured by 2011 and 7,000 megawatt by 2013 for supplying electricity to all;
* A variety of domestic and regional programmes will be adopted for energy security;
* Poverty ratio will be reduced from the current 45 per cent to 25 per cent within next five years. The absolute number of the poor will be reduced from 65 million (6.5 crore) to 45 million (4.5 crore);
* Unemployment will be cut down from 40 per cent to 15 per cent by 2021. Employment will rise from 42 million (4.2 crore) to 90 million (9.0 crore);
* War criminals will be tried and religious terrorism will be dealt with, with an iron hand;
* Independence of Judiciary will be ensured in true sense of the term;
* Good governance will be ensured through establishment of human rights and rule of law and upholding of fundamental rights on a strong footing;
* Verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case will be implemented and re-trial of the killers of the four national leaders in jail will be held;
* Perpetrators of the grenade attack on August 21 as well as other deadly grenade attacks will be tried;
* Administration will be freed from political and partisan influence. Recruitment, appointment and promotion will be made on the basis of merit, competence, efficiency and seniority;
* A permanent Pay Commission will be set up for government officials and employees;
* Rangpur will be made an Administrative Division;
* Parliament will be made effective by subjecting policies of national importance to the decision of parliament which will also have the major role in ensuring transparency and accountability of the government;
* An effective investment-friendly environment as well as one-stop service will be set up to promote industrial growth;
* Opportunities will be created for investment by local and foreign entrepreneurs as well as Non-resident Bangladeshi (NRB) investors. Steps will be taken for utilising the talents of the NRBs;
* Policies will be put in place for industrial growth, including shipbuilding and other new areas of industrial potentials;
* Steps will be taken for development of information technology (IT) industry and spreading of computer literacy. 'Digital Bangladesh' will be ensured by 2021;
* Steps will be taken for protection, strengthening and expansion of readymade garments and textile industries as well as for revival of jute and tea industries;
* Steps will be taken for development of handicrafts and handloom industry as well as for the rehabilitation of weavers and their access to loan;
* Economic growth will be accelerated to 8.0 per cent per annum in five years to 2013 and 10 per cent by 2017, after which the rate will be sustained;
* A permanent Wage Commission will be set up for workers, minimum wages and trade union rights will be ensured;
* As special case, rationing will be introduced for the workers, the ultra poor, and the landless farm labourers;
* Subsidy will be given for supply of fertiliser, seeds, pesticides and other agricultural inputs, while fair price of agricultural produces will be ensured. Steps will be taken so that salt farmers get fair price;
* The highest budgetary allocation will be made for education, science and information technology;
* By 2010, enrolment at the primary level will be raised to 100 per cent;
* Education up to degree level will be made free in phases by 2013;
* By 2014, illiteracy will be eradicated from Bangladesh;
* New education policy will be prepared, standards of education raised, remuneration and benefits of teachers enhanced. A separate service commission will be established for teachers;
* By 2013, healthcare for all will be ensured and 18,000 community clinics will be commissioned;
* By 2011, arrangements will be made for supply of arsenic-free potable water to all;
* By 2013, arrangements will be made to ensure sanitation for all consistent with health standards;
* By 2015, shelter will be arranged for all;
Eighty-five per cent of the population will get adequate nutrition by 2021;
* By 2021, child mortality will be reduced from 54 to 15, per 1000;
* By 2021, maternal mortality rate will be reduced from 3.8 to 1.5 percent per thousand;
* Life expectancy is projected to rise to 70 by 2021;
* Policy will be put in place for empowerment, equal rights and opportunities for women. The policy for Women 1997 which had been adopted by Awami League government will be revived, 33 per cent of parliamentary seats for direct election will be reserved for women.
* Child labour will be prohibited and implementation of the UN convention on Child Rights will provide happy childhood;
* All steps will be taken for improving the standard of life for the disabled;
* 'Employment Guarantee Scheme' will be introduced which, by 2011 will provide employment to one able-bodied young person per family;
* A scheme will be adopted to employ the higher secondary graduates in National Service;
* The programme for road networks connecting village-union-upazila and zila will be completed within five years to 2013.
* Steps to address the traffic problems and congestion of Dhaka city will include improvement of the existing road networks, elevated (two-level) road and flyover;
* The Padma Bridge will be constructed; there will be also tunnel or suspended bridge over the Karnafuli River. The railway will be expanded and modernised;
* Construction of deep sea port and modernisation of Chittagong and Mongla ports will be undertaken which will be made accessible to Asia. The land ports will be modernised;
* Bangladesh will be connected with the Asian Highway and Asian railway;
* Steps will be taken to materialise the commitments of `muktijuddha' (liberation war), rehabilitation of the dignity of the freedom fighters, preservation of the memory of 'muktijuddha', and its true history;
* Steps will be initiated to abolish forever the repression of and discrimination against the religious minorities, small ethnic and the tribal communities. All laws which discriminate against them will be repeated;
* The Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord will be implemented in full;
* Improvement of the living standard of those who live in 'char' lands, `haor-baor' and the coastal areas will receive priority consideration;
* Steps will be taken to cope with global warming, preservation of forest and bio-diversity as well as an environment free from water and air pollution;
* Necessary steps will be initiated to improve the standard of sports and to reach international levels;
* All steps will be taken for the freedom of mass media and for upholding information law;
* Armed forces will be kept above all controversies and built up as an invincible force equipped with modern weapons and logistics. A National Defence Policy will be formulated;
* The Bengali language and culture will be preserved and the intrusion of militant communalism and counter-culture will be resisted;
* Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) will be expanded to provide services while their accountability will be strictly enforced;
* Regional cooperation will be strengthened, along with relationships with SAARC and BIMSTEC;
* Solidarity with the Islamic Ummah will be enhanced and cooperation with the members of OIC will be strengthened; and
* Foreign Policy will be based on 'friendship with all, malice towards none', being consistent with mutual respect and national interests.
The AL wants not a mere change of power and it is also determined to salvage the country from its present critical state and to transform it into a land of real democracy with rule of law, food security, rapid development and peaceful existence, Sheikh Hasina noted.
With this end, she said, we are presenting our long-term vision for the nation as well as an implementable five-year work plan with specific targets and strategies.
Sheikh Hasina said "we believe that the invaluable experience that Bangladesh Awami League gained in administering the country (1996- 2001) can be utilised with great efficiency, honesty and commitment to take the country forward."
"We dedicate our Vision-2021 to the young generation, who are enrolled as voters this year for the first time, with the aim of building a bright future for them," she said adding. "We want to utilise the immense potentials of our new generation of voters. We have formulated our Election Manifesto and work programme for them."
We believe that the successful implementation of this work programme and Vision-2021 depends on the active participation and involvement of the country's young generations in the process, she observed.
Sheikh Hasina said by implementing this manifesto with the collective efforts of the entire nation, we will create a bright and successful future for the new generation. She called upon them to participate in this great endeavour of national reconstruction and to build a bright future for themselves as well as for generations to come.
"If Awami League is voted to govern the country, we will bring back peace and trust in your life by reducing the price of daily essentials," she said and appealed to all to forget past differences and disputes and, in the spirit of the glorious struggle for freedom, to work unitedly in this endeavour for bringing change," she said.
"Let us put a permanent end to persecution, deprivation, inequity, and mis-governance. Let us construct a just and democratic society and build a happy, prosperous, Sonar Bangla and seeking the help and blessings of the Almighty in our endeavours," she added.
The AL manifesto said the five-year misrule of the BNP-Jamat alliance government did away with all the promises generated by the Awami League government. The situation in Bangladesh became grim both politically and economically.
Hundreds of thousands of Awami League supporters and members of the minority community became victims of political vengeance of the BNP-Jamat alliance, it added.
The manifesto said criminal syndicates were organised under the patronage of the infamous Hawa Bhaban combine. Thousands of women and girls became victims of rape. Teachers, students, journalists, intellectuals, women and children, businessmen - no group of people could escape the clutches of the fascist forces.
Poverty levels again increased to 45 percent and the population planning stagnated.
Though BNP-Jamat combine came to power on the slogan of jihad against corruption, criminalisation and corruption became the policy of the government. Under the leadership of the son of the Prime Minister, criminal godfathers became extremely influential. The Hawa Bhaban became a parallel centre of state power and the source of all corruption and militancy, it said.
The manifesto said with popular support, a new Caretaker government was formed under the leadership of Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed with behind the scene support of the armed forces. Under the Emergency political activities were banned for an indefinite period.
'Meanwhile, the tenure of the present Caretaker government has crossed nearly two years. The government has been ruling the country with various limitations, weaknesses, lapses as well as some successes. This government has separated the judiciary from the executive, reformed the Election Commission, Public Service Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission etc. Another positive step taken by this government was the preparation of a voters' list with photograph. Our armed forces have earned people's admiration for accomplishing this task with great efficiency. The caretaker government has also reformed the electoral laws and procedure,' the manifesto said.