Election Manifesto of

10th National Parliamentary Elections, 2014

Bangladesh Awami League

Marching Ahead Bangladesh
Road to Peace, Democracy, Development and Prosperity

The Background

Bangladesh has stepped forward towards a resplendent future. The his-

toric phase of transforming Bangladesh into a middle income country,
shaking off poverty and backwardness, has effectively begun. 42 years
have elapsed since the liberation of our dear motherland Bangladesh. The
emergence of Bangladesh in 1971, under the leadership of the Father of
the Nation and the greatest Bangalee of all time, Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, is a uniquely unforgettable phenomenon of recent his-
tory. The independence achieved through the sacrifice of three million
Bangalee lives is one of the greatest achievements of the Bengali Nation.
Bangladesh Awami League did not only provide leadership to the Liber-
ation War, giving birth to an independent Bangladesh, but also envisioned
all major achievable goals for the nation including self-identity, state lan-
guage, independence, democracy, development and prosperity of the
Bangalee nation. It was under the leadership of the Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that the nation put itself to the
great task of building a prosperous ‘Golden Bengal’— Sonar Bangla.
Bangladesh stood out of the wreckage of a devastating war, ever confi-
dent and promising.

But on the 15th of August 1975, with the assassination of the Father of
the Nation Bangabandhu along with the members of his family, the coun-
try went through unthinkable agony and crisis. On the 3rd of November
the same year four national leaders were killed inside the Dhaka Central

3
Jail. Mushtaque-Zia circle of conspirators subjected the country once
again to a regime of military rule and autocracy. The constitution was
manipulated by issuing Military Ordinances and anti-liberation forces
were given the opportunity to establish themselves in the political arena.
Progressive thinking and the liberation forces were relentlessly sup-
pressed. Those who committed war crimes and actively participated in
genocide, the banned Jamaat-e-Islami and other communal political par-
ties as well as their leaders and cohorts, were not only rehabilitated but
were actually taken into the helm of affairs and made partners of power
with the military ruler Ziaur Rahman and, at a later stage, Khaleda Zia,
who shared power with those very heinous political forces. After 1975
with the power of the state in hand the military rulers took away people’s
rights and destroyed the electoral process. More than one political party
emerged from within the cantonments. Coup and counter-coup became
a matter of everyday incidence. By upholding personal and sectorial in-
terests, by killing officers and people who fought the Liberation War and
by dismissing others from active service, the glorious liberation winning
army was made weak in morale and, therefore, in combat capability.
State terrorism, communalism, misuse of religious sentiments, black
money, muscle power, corruption, looting and criminalization became
the general principles of running the state. Even though parliamentary
democracy was reestablished in the wake of people’s uprising in 1991,
BNP – the party in power – kept the autocratic system unabated. In this
way post-75 military autocrats dismantled all the achievements of the
Liberation War and brought an end to the possibility of building a beau-
tiful, happy and prosperous Bangladesh.

The Golden Age of Bangladesh (1996-2001)

This unbearable situation came to an end in 1996. Amidst the backdrop

of people’s undaunted struggle for democracy and the sacrifice of many
martyrs, Bangladesh Awami League won the historic national parliamen-
tary elections held on 12th June 1996. After 21 long years, Awami League
was able to form government again. The daughter of Bangabandhu,
Jononerti (people’s leader) Sheikh Hasina took up the responsibility of
running the country.

A glorious chapter brimming with successes was written largely during

the five-year rule of Awami League from 1996 to 2001. Within the span
of just five years, Bangladesh attained self-sufficiency in food produc-
tion, price index receded and inflation came down to 1.59 percent. Mean-
while, the rate of economic growth increased to 6.2 percent.
Achievements like the Treaty of Water Sharing of the River Ganges, the
peace accord in Chittagong Hill Tracts, the recognition of 21st February

4
as International Mother Language Day and election to the UN Security
Council introduced Bangladesh to the global community as a country
with immense prospects.

Various initiatives taken for alleviation of poverty resulted in the reduc-

tion of poverty from an average of .50 to 1.50 percent, while the human
poverty indicator came down from 41.6 percent to 32 percent. Achieving
rise of 56 percentage points in the UN Human Development Index (HDI)
in five years was a record. Increase of literacy rate to 65 percent, formu-
lation of an education policy and the removal of session backlogs in ed-
ucational institutions were significant achievements in the education
sector. Great success was achieved in the generation of electricity and
power, while transport and communication sectors received improved
dramatically. In only five years’ time total electricity generation was
raised by as much as 4,300 megawatts. Increase in gas production and
exploration, completion of the Jamuna Bridge, construction of 62,000
kilometers of paved and unpaved roads and building of 19,000 bridges
and culverts were also achieved during the time enhancing country’s
overall infrastructural topography. Internal savings also increased from
14.7 percent of national income to 18 percent and the rate of investment
increased from 20 percent to 23.1 percent. During the period 1 lakh 22
thousand small and medium size industries were established. Millions of
job opportunities for the unemployed were created through the boosting
of private investments. One community clinic for every 6 thousand peo-
ple was established at the government’s initiative. Withdrawal of taxes
and duties on medical equipment encouraged the setting up of clinics
and hospitals in the private sector. By abolishing monopoly in the mobile
telephone sector mobile phones were made available to everyone at low
price and access to information technology was opened up for all.

Rule of law and establishment of human rights were ensured by repealing

the infamous Indemnity Ordinance, bringing to trial the killers of Banga-
bandhu and four national leaders and by establishing the Law Commis-
sion. The Awami League government also introduced the concept of good
governance and formulated women’s development policy that accelerated
women’s empowerment. In the parliament the ‘Prime Minister’s question
hour’ was introduced and the Parliamentary Committees were activated
and strengthened by appointing Members as Chairman of the committee
replacing the minister. A four-tier local government system was intro-
duced by passing necessary enactments. Transparency and accountability
were reinforced across all levels of the government. The spirit of the Lib-
eration War was re-established in the social, economic, political, educa-
tional and cultural arenas. Bangladesh had actually turned around.

5
End of a Possibility: Bangladesh in the Grip of BNP-Jamaat Mis-
governance and Corruption

With the direct involvement of a partisan Caretaker Government through

rigging and manipulation in 2001 election Awami League’s certain pos-
itive results were taken away by the alliance even though Awami League
and BNP-Jamaat alliance got almost equal votes. For BNP-Jamaat al-
liance more than two-thirds of the seats were crudely engineered. Thus
non-partisan objectivity of the caretaker government became question-
able. The BNP-Jamaaat alliance during their five year misrule turned
Bangladesh into a failed state. Killing, terrorism and the rise of militancy
reduced Bangladesh to a death valley. Under the tutelage of Khaleda Zia
and her son Tareq Rahman and with their directives, Jononetri Sheikh
Hasina came under grenade attack on 21 August 2004 when 22 Awami
League leaders and workers including Begum Ivy Raman were killed.
Erstwhile Finance Minister A S M Kibria, Member of Parliament, labour
leader Ahsanullah Master and advocate Monjurul Imam and erstwhile
member of the parliament Momtajuddin were killed along with 21 thou-
sand other leaders and workers of the Awami League during the period.
Apart from this, a good number of known and important persons of
Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities were annihilated. Thousands
of minority men and women became targets of communal violence. Hun-
dreds of women and minors irrespective of being Hindus or Muslims be-
came victims of rape and mass rape. Journalists, teachers, intellectuals,
cultural activists, farmers, labourers – none were spared from the terror,
political violence and brutal attacks perpetrated by the BNP-Jamaat al-
liance. In the cabinet, known war criminals got covenanted positions.
With the active support of the government extreme communal militancy
was born and nurtured. Serial grenade and bomb attacks and murders
turned Bangladesh into a haven for terrorists. Extra judicial killings be-
came a norm and the rule of law disappeared. On 17 August 2005, con-
certed bomb explosions were organized at a time in more than five
hundred spots in 63 districts of the country. During the BNP-Jamaat al-
liance government, on various occasions civil courts, public places like
cinema halls, churches, temples and mosques, mazaars or mausoleums
of the saints, offices and various places of public congregations became
the targets of bomb attacks when judges, pleaders, cultural activists and
workers were killed in large numbers and thousands of men and women
were badly hurt or maimed for life. Bangladesh appeared to be a terrorist
country. On the other hand, a total failure of governance paved the way
for inefficiency, corruption and misrule stopping the previous accelera-
tion of the development process and dismantling all incentives toward
good governance and the future possibilities of the country. At the ini-
tiative of Tareq Rahman a parallel centre of power was established—an

6
alternate centre of government authority known as Hawa Bhaban. The
21st August grenade attack was conceived and organized from this Hawa
Bhaban. This was the undeclared headquarter of all unethical, illegal and
money-grabbing activities including rent seeking, kick-back and com-
mission collection, manipulation of recruitment and transfer in adminis-
tration, illegal arms and narcotics trade. People were subjected to all
kinds of extortion and the life of the general masses became increasingly
difficult. During each of the five years of the alliance government’s time,
Bangladesh became infamous as the most corrupt country of the world
even by TIB ratings. The syndicates created at the incidence of Hawa
Bhaban were responsible for artificial crisis in the market. Commodity
prices increased many times, about hundred to two hundred times, com-
pared to the previous time of Awami League’s rule. Tareq Rahman, Arafat
Rahman, the Ministers, Members of the Parliament and the party activists
visibly tilted towards import business rather than establishing industries.
They did not want Bangladesh to be self-reliant. The BNP government
was clearly deeply involved in trading and different businesses for mak-
ing quick money. Self-interest was more important to them than the in-
terest of the people and the country. Many people became very wealthy
within a very short time. Due to all these negative activities, a country
self-reliant in food became a deficit country. Monga or a dire shortage
of food became prevalent in some of the areas and death by starvation
hit news headlines again. The poverty line went up. Community Clinics
introduced by Awami League were all closed down. Literacy rate came
down to 50 percent from 65 percent achieved by Awami League. The
women’s policy and education policy of 1997 were rescinded. Empow-
erment of women, investment in education and health lost priority and
the acceleration that was gained during the previous Awami League
regime was also cancelled out.

During their tenure BNP-Jamaat alliance government could not increase

power generation. On the contrary, effective productive capacity came
down by as much as 1000 megawatts; production of gas remained static.
But on the other hand, Tarek Rahman and his friend’s company Khamba
Limited was given the opportunity to sell taka hundreds of crore worth
of electric poles. In Kansat of Chapainawabganj district, people took to
the street demanding supply of electricity. The answer was given by
shooting down those who raised their voices and seventeen farmers gave
their lives. Electricity and energy prices reached an unbearable level. As
a result investment and industrialization became totally static. Along with
this situation the prices of all agricultural inputs such as fertilizer, seeds
and diesel increased tremendously. Agricultural production received a
big jolt; growth in the agricultural sector came down to only 3 percent.

7
Administration, judiciary, Election Commission, educational institutions
and police administration—everywhere and at every stage shameless ac-
tivities of grabbing became the order of the day. Partisan politics and ap-
plication of force against all honest efforts subdued justice and
demolished governance. BNP-Jamaat alliance destroyed the country’s
electoral system and rendered the election time non-partisan caretaker
system of governance meaningless. In order to appoint a partisan Chief
Advisor, the BNP-alliance government amended the Constitution and in-
creased the tenure of the Chief Justice by two years. They did not stop at
appointing incompetent persons as Justices and Election Commissioners.
They also created 1 crore 23 lakh voters who did not actually exist. They
also had a clear blue-print of election engineering which they tried to im-
plement by all means.

In 2006 disregarding constitutional obligations and public opinion Pres-

ident Dr. Iajuddin of BNP declared himself Chief Advisor of the non-
partisan caretaker government. But in spite of all these and particularly
Dr. Iajuddin’s breach of trust and his efforts to render the Caretaker Gov-
ernment an instrument of implementing BNP blue print the then Advisors
of the Caretaker Government resigned from time to time. The blue print
of election engineering became clear to the public. The activities of the
Caretaker Government made a fair, free and credible election an impos-
sibility. Against this backdrop power changed hands on 11 January 2007.
Emergency was declared and Elections were postponed. Dr. Iajuddin was
removed from the post of Chief Advisor; a new Caretaker Government
was formed with the support of the armed forces under the leadership of
Dr. Fakhruddin.

The Politics of Depoliticization and Attempted Minus Two Formula

This new armed forces backed Caretaker Government taking advantage

of the emergency started an all-out campaign of character assassination,
intimidation and even outright torture. In the name of depoliticization an
indirect army rule started. All political activities remained banned for a
long time. Not only the politicians but also the businessmen, university
teachers, intellectuals, even small traders and students became the targets
of harassment and torture. The suggestion of Awami Leage to hold im-
mediate elections was disregarded. By applying extra constitutional pow-
ers the tenure of Caretaker Government was stretched up to two years.

In the meanwhile, a ‘minus two formula’ was circulated. This theory was
put forward in order to effectively keep Jononerti Sheikh Hasina (the
daughter of Bangabandhu) away from politics. When she went abroad

8
an embargo was imposed on her return home. But Jononetri Sheikh
Hasina disregarded all these threats and embargo and expressed her firm
intension to return home and built up global opinion in her favour. The
government was compelled to concede and Sheikh Hasina returned home
holding her head high. But when she protested against suppression of
political activities and pin-pointed the failures of the government’s pro-
grammes she was arrested on July 16, 2007 without any warrant or for-
mulation of any charge. False cases were lodged against her one after the
other. In isolation she was subjected to mental torture, and her life was
under threat.

This military-backed government made efforts to implement the ‘minus

two formula’, tried to create rifts within the larger political parties, and
made efforts to create a new king’s party with the full backing of military
intelligence. All these activities and the ambition of the Army Chief him-
self to wear the mantle of the presidency endangered the democratic con-
stitutional process. Bangladesh Awami League helped to form a public
opinion that supported constitutional process to go on, to lift the ban on
all political activities and to immediately declare the parliamentary elec-
tions. Ultimately the Caretaker Government was constrained to declare
the intention of holding Parliamentary Elections. Awami League declared
its resolution not to participate in an election without the participation of
their leader Sheikh Hasina. On national and international pressures, the
situation within the country started to turn towards a positive direction.
In view of our demands, a voter list was completed with the photograph
of the voter and arrangements were made to use transparent ballot boxes
during the polls. The Election Commission and other constitutional bod-
ies were reorganized and reinstituted. Electoral laws and procedures and
the constitution of the political party were also duely brought up to date
and amended. Jononnetri Sheikh Hasina was freed and after two long
years on December 29, 2008, the ninth parliamentary elections were held.
Under the leadership of Bangladesh Awami League the Grand Alliance,
or as it is called Mahajot, won absolute majority in the elections with
nine-tenths of the parliament’s seats. The people expressed their unstinted
support to the Election Manifesto of Bangladeh Awami League and its
Charter for Change. On January 6 2009 under the leadership of Jononetri
Sheikh Hasina, the Grand Alliance took the oath for office.

At last the crisis was overcome and the great possibilities of taking the
country forward were opened up.

9
Five Years of Awami League government: A Changed Scenario

We have stood up to our commitments. However, our commitments and

programmes were not focused on only five years. For the first time in
the history of Bangladesh a political party adopted a long-term plan with
specific goals and targets. We formulated “Vision-2021” spanning a
decade from 2009 to 2021. A list of programmes and “Vision-2021” tar-
gets materialized in the last five years is presented below:

Our dear motherland Bangladesh has been salvaged out of uncer-

tainty, circularity of crises and underdevelopment of the past and
has been restored to the trajectory of peace, democracy and devel-
opment enshrined in the spirit of the War of Liberation.

Perspective Plan 2010-21 and 6th Five Year Plan (2010-2015) have
been formulated with a view to materializing “Vision-2021”. Both
plans are being currently implemented.

In regard to the five priority areas identified in Awami League’s

Election Manifesto of 2008, we have not only achieved desired suc-
cess but we have actually been able to go beyond set targets in many
respects.

Syndicates of hoarding and profiteering have been successfully

cracked down upon. Consumer rights have been protected and
‘price terrorism’ has been dealt with an iron hand. Shooting up of
prices of essential items like rice, lentil and flour have been re-
strained; price of rice has been brought down, and price of index
has been stabilized within people’s purchasing power. While the
rate of inflation was brought down from 11 per cent to 7.5 per cent,
people’s earning and purchasing power increased on a significant
scale.

The impact of the global recession was contained successfully. Ex-

porters were given incentives to remain competitive in the world
market. Not only did the economy of Bangladesh remain agile in
the face of global economic downturn, it registered an annual
growth of 6.2 per cent per year. Macro-economic indices of the
Awami League regime when compared to those of the BNP alliance
government clearly show which party is truly capable of achieving
fast-track economic growth and development. If the trend of the
success and development achieved by the Awami League govern-
ment is continued as reflected in the comparative picture given in

10
 Table-1, Bangladesh is sure to become a middle-income country by
2021. It is a record that this bright macro-economic scenario has
been recognized all over the world with much commendation. Dur-
ing our regime of five years the volume of the national budget of
Bangladesh has grown by 3.7 times in 2013-14 compared with 2006
owing to robust growth in national income and significant rise in
domestic savings. Foreign remittance has grown by 3.6 times while
foreign exchange reserve hit a historic record growing by 4 times
in the meanwhile. During our regime, export earnings have grown
2.5 times while the generation of electricity crossed the threshold
of 10,000 megawatts recording a growth of 3 times.

Table-1
2005-06 2012-13
Indices ( BNP- Jamaat (Awami League
Alliance Regime) Regime)
Economic Growth 6.7 percent 6.2 percent
Per capita income USD 625 (2008) USD 1,044
National Savings Ratio 27.7 percent 29.5 percent
Investment Ratio 24.7 percent 26.8 percent
Size of national Budget BDT 59,030 million BDT 1,74,214 million
Foreign Aid: New commitment USD 1,787 million USD 5,935 million
Foreign Aid: Disbursement USD 1,567 million USD 2,772 million
Remittance from abroad USD 13 billion USD 48 billion
Foreign Exchange Reserve USD 3.88 billion USD 18 billion
Export earnings USD 10.05 billion USD 27.1 billion
Import bill USD 14.7 billion USD 34.1 million
Food production 278 million tons 375 million tons
People under Poverty line 41.51 percent 26.20 percent
People in extreme poverty 25.1 percent 11.9 percent
Electricity generation capacity 3,782 Megawatt 10,000 Megawatt
Minimum Wages BDT 1,662 BDT 5,300
Rice-purchasing power of agricultural labourers. 3.5-4.5 kg per day 10-12 kg per day

11
 Each year during the five-year regime of BNP-Jamaat Alliance,
Bangladesh earned ill reputation as a highly corrupt country. It has
been possible to shake off much of that stigma in last five years.
The Awami League government has re-constituted the independent
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). ACC has in the meanwhile
established the unprecedented practice of summoning ministers and
senior bureaucrats of the country for the sake of investigation into
corruption, inquiry, accountability and transparency. The all-en-
compassing rampancy of corruption has been significantly curbed
by using digital technology including the introduction of the “on-
line tender submission” system.

Spectacular success has been achieved in the electricity and power

generation sectors. The long enduring electricity crisis has been
solved in the meanwhile by means of emergency measures, in ad-
dition to mid-term and long-term investments. In 2013, electricity
generation crossed the daily threshold of 10,000 megawatts, which
was far above the target of 700 megawatts per day. Cross-border
electricity sharing has opened a new chapter of international trade.
500 megawatts of electricity imported from India has been added
to the national grid. Construction of 2000 megawatt nuclear power
plant at Rooppur has been initiated with Russian assistance. Es-
tablishment of two large coal-based electricity generation plants at
Mongla and Chittagong has been taken up. Currently as many as
62 percent of the people of the country have access to electricity.
The power sector received a significant boost as a number of new
gas fields were drilled, new gas fields were discovered and two new
oil fields were spotted. A huge number of industrial and household
gas connections have been provided recently.

The unparalleled success of the Awami League-led government in

eradicating poverty has earned international recognition.
Bangladesh has achieved several MDG goals set by the UN by
2013—two years ahead of the target time. It has been possible to
bring down the rate of poverty under 26.20 per cent and the rate of
extreme poverty under 11.90 per cent. As many as 50 million people
who lived below the poverty line touched the middle-income
bracket. Disparity in income distribution has also been narrowed
down to large extent.

About 10 million new jobs have been created in the private and
public sectors in last 5 years. This includes 6.9 million jobs in the
formal domestic sector and 2.5 million jobs in different foreign
countries. An arrangement has been made whereby Bangladeshis

12
can now enjoy job opportunities in Malaysia for a fixed fee of BDT
33,274 only. In K.S.A, more than 4 lakh Bangladeshi workers were
able to secure legal work permits by changing Iqama. A number of
projects aimed at self-employment for the unemployed youth by
means of training and loan are on-going. Also about 57 thousand
young trainees will get employment under the programme of Na-
tional Services.

Establishment of good governance was outlined in the Election

Manifesto of 2008 as a priority agenda. Unfortunately the Awami
League government faced challenges of unimaginable proportions
from the very start of their tenure. The BDR mutiny took place on
the 52nd day of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s newly-formed gov-
ernment. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina successfully brought a
peaceful end to the BDR mutiny with utmost patience, titanic
courage and wisdom befitting a statesman. She restored trust across
the armed forces of the country. In the meanwhile, the trial of 18
thousand BDR personnel has been completed to dates. Another 850
of those accused have been tried according to CrPC. The BDR trial
will be considered a milestone in restoring discipline and establish-
ing human rights in military and para-military forces of Bangladesh.
With the aim of getting rid of the disgrace associated with the BDR
Mutiny, BDR has been re-titled Border Guard of Bangladesh
(BGB). A new law has been enacted in this regard.

The trial of the assassination of Bangabandhu has been completed.

Also, the perpetrators of the Jail Killing of 1975 have been brought
to book. These have ushered in a new era of rule of law.

In fulfillment of the electoral pledge, the trial of the war criminals

of 1971 has been initiated. In the meanwhile, 10 people accused of
committing war crimes in 1971 have been convicted and justice has
been served. Abdul Quader Mollah, found guilty of committing war
crimes, was executed in due course.

50 Standing Committees were formed in the first session of the Par-

liament with a view to making the parliamentary proceedings more
participatory and effective. Some of the chairpersons of the sub-
committees were chosen from the opposition bench. The number
of seats reserved for women was raised to 50.

In the wake of the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu on 15th Au-

gust 1975 the Martial Administrator amended the constitution of

13
 1972 by a military decree. The military ruler Ershad also amended
the constitution of the country in the same vein. In 2006 the High
Court, and in 2011 the Supreme Court, declared the martial law
regimes of Zia-Ershad “unlawful” and also declared the 5th amend-
ment to the constitution “illegal”. Bangladesh Awami League has
from the beginning objected amendment to the constitution by mil-
itary dictators. Awami League was committed to revert to the orig-
inal constitution of the country formulated in 1972. In spirit with
that, 15th Amendment Bill was placed at the parliament on behalf
of the government. A 15 member Special Parliamentary Committee
was formed which, for over a year, consulted political leaders of
almost all the parties, constitutional experts, lawyers, members of
the intelligentsia, civil society and journalists in addition to mem-
bers of the general public on the proposed amendment to the Con-
stitution. Innumerable institution and individuals also presented
their opinions in writing. Elaborate discussions were held to con-
sider all opinions and suggestion in 27 meetings. In a landmark
move, the Parliament passed the Constitution (15th Amendment)
Bill on 30 June 2011. As a result, the four basic principles of the
original constitution of 1972 were restored. The amendment also
outlawed any attempt to secure power in an unconstitutional way.

The Judiciary has been separated from the Executive. Both the ju-
risdictional freedom and financial authority of the judiciary have
been ensured. A separate pay scale has been introduced for the ju-
dicial department.

For the first time in history, the Honourable President of the country
consulted all political parties in order to form the Election Com-
mission on the basis of the recommendation of a “Search Commit-
tee”. With a view to ensuring Commission’s independence, it has
been vested with necessary financial powers and the authority to
appoint its own manpower.

The Voter List has been updated. The Election Commission since
assuming office has held 5,803 elections including parliamentary
by-elections, City Corporation, municipal elections and local gov-
ernment election. These elections held in a free, fair and credible
manner have elected 64,013 people’s representatives to different
positions. People’s right to vote has been re-established. Awami
League has proved beyond doubt that elections held during its
regime can be held in a free, fair and credible manner.

14
Responsibility and authority of Union Parishad, Upazilla Parishad,
District council and municipal authorities have been enhanced on
a significant scale.

An effective independent Human Rights Commission has been es-

tablished.

Equal rights for ethnic and religious minorities have been guaran-
teed by means of constitutional provision.

Right to Information Act (RTI) has been passed by the Parliament.

Information Commission of Bangladesh has also been formed.

During last five years, Awami League government contained mili-

tancy braving the conspiracy of destroying communal harmony and
a naked patronization of terrorism by BNP-Jamaat axis. Shaking
off the stigma of a terrorist country, Bangladesh is now one of the
safest and most peaceful countries in South Asia.

Three NRB banks have been established with the aim of engender-
ing participation of the non-resident Bangladeshis (NRB) in nation
building activities.

Many reformative steps have been taken up with the aim of obtain-
ing a non-partisan and pro-people administration. To facilitate e-
governance at all levels, computers with internet connectivity have
been supplied at the divisional, district, Upazilla and Union
Parishad levels. While ensuring accountability and transparency, a
policy of appointment and promotion on the basis of competence,
seniority and merit is being thoroughly pursued. The age of retire-
ment for public servants has been raised to 59. The retirement age
of freedom fighters working in the public service has been raised
to 60 years. Dearness Allowance at the rate of 20 per cent of the
basic salary has been awarded. Maternity leave entitled to female
public servants has been increased to six months from four months.
A permanent Pay Commission has also been instituted. During the
Awami League regime as many as 4 lakh 27 thousand new jobs
have been created in the public sector to be paid out of the revenue
budget. As many as 1 lakh 18 thousand positions have been made
permanent. It has been decided that an amount of BDT 5 lakh will
be paid by way of compensation to the family, in place of BDT 20
thousand, if a public servant dies while on duty. Similarly, an
amount of BDT 2 lakh will be paid if a public servant receives in-

15
 jury in course of discharging his duties. A 150-bed modern hospital
has been established in Dhaka to cater to the medical needs of gov-
ernment employees.

Multiple steps have been undertaken to modernize the police and

other law enforcing agencies of the country. These include upward
revision of pay and allowances, provision of residential accommo-
dation and enhancement of other personal facilities.

As promised, a new division Rangpur has been constituted. Munic-

ipalities of Narayanganj, Comilla, Gazipur and divisional headquar-
ter Rangpur have been upgraded to City Corporation. Elections of
the same have been held in the meanwhile. The municipality of My-
mensingh has been upgraded to a City Corporation.

Apart from achievements in priority areas, the changes and advancements

resulting from the implementation of important programmes are unprece-
dented.

The matter of attaining food self-sufficiency by 2012 is known to

all. Epoch-making success seen an increase of agriculture produc-
tion, diversification in agricultural production, agricultural research
and modernization of agriculture. Big changes have become visible
in the rural economy as a result of different measures like reduction
of prices of fertilizers a number of times, introduction of distribut-
ing agricultural implements through card, the special opportunity
to open bank-account against 10 taka only and granting of agricul-
tural loan to landless farmers without security. Production of agri-
products like vegetables, fruits, oil seeds, maize, and spices is
experiencing sustained rise. Discovery of jute genome, and those
of more than five hundred fungi, innovation of nutrition-rich rice
(Vitamin A) seeds, innovation of high yielding varieties of rice re-
sistant to salinity, draught and water-logging and similar other hy-
brid varieties of agricultural commodities has brought about a
significant change in Bangladesh’s agriculture.

A timely Education Policy has been formulated which is being im-

plemented. Admission of 100 per cent of children at primary level,
free distribution of text books to students of secondary as well as
primary level, introduction of public examination at class five and
class eight, reduction of the rate of drop-out, increasing the propor-
tion of girl-students by way of scholarship to 78 lakh 70 thousand
and 129 students at the primary level, 40 lakh and 1 lakh and 33

16
thousand students at the higher secondary level are examples of
huge progress in the area of education. 26 thousand and 193 schools
have been nationalized and jobs of 1 lakh 3 thousand 845 teachers
have been converted into government service. Measures were taken
for upgrading the rank, salary and allowance, training and skill of
teachers including headmasters. Programmes are being imple-
mented to provide multimedia and internet connection to all edu-
cational institutions of the country by phases, establishment of
computer laboratories and the transforming of one school in each
district into a model school. Programmes of on-line registration,
admission tests and publication of results have earned people’s ad-
miration. The Awami League government has so far set up 6 new
public universities, and a project has been taken up for establishing
seven more. Permission has been given for the setting up of 9 new
private universities. Prime Minister’s Trust Fund for Facilitating
Education has been set up with a permanent fund of taka 1000
crore. It has been possible to raise the literacy rate in the country to
65 per cent.

Digital Bangladesh is no longer a dream, but a reality. In addition

to the expansion of information technology in the education sector,
Bangladesh now tops the South Asian countries in the use of infor-
mation technology as medium of administration, banking, medical
care, trade and commerce and mass communication. Internet con-
nection has been provided at union level, and union information
and service centres have been set up. In Bangladesh, 3 crore and
68 lakh of people now use internet. The number of mobile phone
SIM used by the people hit a record 10 crore in the meanwhile.

Bangladesh has been awarded the South-South Award in the health

sector, particularly for development in child health. At present, the
rate of child mortality in Bangladesh is 53 per thousand; maternal
mortality is 143 per thousand. Bangladesh achieved this target fixed
up for 2015 right in 2013. Average life expectancy has reached up
to 67.7 years. During the regime of the Awami League government,
a total of 13,000 community clinics and 24 new Government hos-
pitals were started. District hospitals of 100 beds were upgraded to
those of 250 beds, and hospitals of 250 beds were upgraded to those
of 500 beds. Number of beds at Upazilla Health Complexes was
increased to 50. Seven government Nursing Institutes were up-
graded to colleges, 12 new Nursing Institutes were set up, and 4
new Health Technology Institutes were floated. 1035 new private
hospitals have been set up. The scope for creating and providing
health-care through telemedicine and internet connection to union

17
 and upazilla from specialized and medical college hospitals has
been explored. Medicine is provided free from Government hospi-
tals, community Clinics and Health Centres. Bangladesh is moving
forward in the eradication and prevention of infectious diseases.
Bangladesh is now exporting medicine to 90 countries. About
30,000 persons have been employed as physicians and nurses.

In order to enhance women’s empowerment, the number of seats

reserved for women in the National Parliament have been increased
by 5, and made 50. To create opportunities for women’s increased
participation in politics, reserved seats for women in union council,
upazilla parishad and municipalities have been increased to one-
third of the total and women are to be directly elected to those seats.
At present in Bangladesh, the Prime Minister, Leader of the Oppo-
sition, Speaker and Deputy Leader of the House are women. Num-
ber of women among the Judges of the Supreme Court, top
positions of the Administration—Secretaries, Additional Secre-
taries, Joint Secretaries, Deputy Commissioners, top positions of
police, Armed Forces and UN Peace-keepers—indicates improve-
ment in women’s empowerment. In Bangladesh, proportion of
men’s and women’s population stand at 49.5: 50.5. This is not only
balanced in demography, but is a rare reflection of our society’s
equal treatment of girl-children.

During last five years, about 6,000 industrial projects from home
and abroad have been registered in Bangladesh. This has resulted
in the creation of job opportunities for 15 lakh people. Two jute
mills in Khulna and Serajganj, closed down earlier, have been re-
opened; the jute industry has got its life back. A number of special-
ized industrial zones are being set up across different regions with
the aim of achieving geographically balanced industrial develop-
ment throughout the country. More than 1 lakh small and medium
sized industries have been set up.

Food security has been ensured for the people. Due to the attain-
ment of food self-sufficiency, food no longer needs to be imported.
Among the starkly poor in rural areas and poor of the social security
belt, food was distributed under social security programmes such
as Test Relief, VGF (vulnerable group feeding) and KABIKHA
(food for works) programs at a low price and for free. No monga
occurred and nobody died from hunger. Capacity for emergency
storage of food has been enhanced from 14 lakh to 19 lakh tons.

18
Multi-directed measures were taken with a view to ensuring eco-
logical balance and protection of forest areas, development of water
resources, and maintenance of navigability and expansion of irri-
gation. Navigability of long routes of rivers like the Madhumati,
Garai, Buriganga and Kushiara have been recovered through capital
dredging. As a result of increased water-flow in the south-western
regions coming from dredging of the Madhumati and Garai, pro-
tection of the Sunderbans and bio-diversity is becoming possible.
Measures have been taken for the protection, strengthening and ex-
pansion of coastal dams. A National, Regional and International
Co-ordinated Work-Program-2009 was taken up for the manage-
ment of possible disasters and maintenance of ecological balance.
The government formed the Climate Trust Fund from its own re-
sources and other multi-directed programs are being implemented.

A huge programme of expansion of road, rail and river routes with

a view to modernizing the transport system and synchronizing that
with national development is being implemented and being carried
forward. Work of upgrading of Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-My-
mensingh road to four lanes is on-going. Work of regular repair of
the highways is going on. Construction work of Teesta Bridge has
been completed. Under the Local Government Ministry, construc-
tion-work of 29,672 kilometres of road has come to completion in
addition to the construction of 1 lakh 63 thousand metres of bridge
and culvert. 58 buses have been added to the fleet of the BRTC.
Now there is a separate Ministry of the Railways in Bangladesh.
The Railway is undergoing modernization including introduction
of commuter rail and construction of 22 kilometres of new line. The
project for the construction of the Padma Bridge with local funding
is under implementation.

An expanded new airport is under construction at Cox’s Bazaar.

Four new Boeing aircrafts have been added to the Biman fleet.

Many flyovers have been constructed with a view to solving the

traffic congestion problems of Dhaka and Chittagong cities. Work
on the construction of the metro rail in Dhaka city has been inau-
gurated. Work on the construction of the 26-kilometre elevated ex-
pressway from Shahjalal Airport to Kutubkhali has been initiated.
Many other flyovers are under construction.

As a result of the implementation of the Hatirjheel project, a part

of Dhaka megacity has now assumed a modern and eye-catching

19
 appearance comparable to those of the best cities of the world. This
project and the network of newly constructed flyovers have given
Dhaka the architectural look of a world-standard modern city.

Child labour has been banned in many industrial sectors. Multifac-

eted programs have been undertaken with a view to ensuring chil-
dren’s health, education, sports and a joyful childhood that may
follow from a ban on discrimination and persecution.

Many programs including the formation of the Autism Trust Fund

have been undertaken nationally and internationally for the welfare
of those with learning difficulties and particularly autistic children.
Apart from what was the result of the personal initiatives of the
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, initiatives of her specialist daughter,
Saima Wazed Hossain, created much awareness about autism at a
national level, leading to enhanced awareness at the UNO and in-
ternational also and the subsequent passing of positive resolutions
there.

A revised Labour Law is being implemented for the well-being of

workers and employees. After two phases of wage increases, the
minimum wage for garments factory workers now stands at 5,300
taka, reflecting an increase of 3,700 taka since 2010.

Monthly allowance of insolvent freedom fighters has been en-

hanced from 900 taka to 3000 taka. A number of housing projects,
income-enhancing buildings and commercial complexes are being
implemented. Construction-work of Victory Tower of the Libera-
tion War at the Suhrawardy Udyan Dhaka has been completed. Me-
morial towers are being constructed at 13 places of face-to-face
battles in 1971. Special reception has been accorded to the foreign
friends of the Liberation War to recognise their important contri-
butions to our efforts in 1971.

Free flow of information and freedom of mass media have been

guaranteed. The Act of Right to Information has ensured people’s
opportunity to have access to information. Steps have been taken
to declare newspaper as an industry. A large number of television
channels and FM radio stations have been granted license to oper-
ate. A large number of community radio stations have been operat-
ing on a local basis. The Eighth Wage Board has been formed for
upward revision of the salary and allowance of journalists.

20
Children, adolescents, young men and women are being given
sports training in 64 districts and at six government colleges. Proj-
ects for constructing a stadium at each district and, in phases, at all
upazillas are being implemented. During this period, Bangladesh
has earned a reputation for organizing a number of international
tournaments. Success has come to cricket, weight-lifting, golf and
hockey at Asian and international levels.

Multi-directed cultural activities have enriched the free flow of non-

communal and democratic tradition of Bengali culture. The 150th Birth
Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the 90th Anniversary of Nazrul’s
composition of “Bidrohee” and Nazrul’s 113th birth festival were ob-
served at the joint initiative of Bangladesh and India. A modern gallery
on the Liberation War has been set up at the National Museum, a Writ-
ers’ Museum has been put up at Bangla Academy, Bangla Grammar
has been compiled at the initiative of Bangla Academy, activities of
the International Mother Language Institute have taken off, and a law
has been passed for preservation of the tradition and heritage of small
ethnic groups and related measures have been duly taken. Ancient
urban civilizations and Buddhist Viharas could be located at Uwary-
Bateshwar and Bikrampur, and excavation has been going on at other
archaeological sites. Measures have been taken for the preservation of
archaeological treasures.

New warships, fighter planes, helicopters, radars, tanks, missiles, and

other military vehicles, implements and armaments etc. have been pur-
chased for the Army, Navy and Air Force with a view to enhancing the
defense capability of Bangladesh. Promotion, retirement age, salary
and allowances and other facilities for members of the Armed Forces
have been enhanced. The contribution of the Army to the Hatirjheel
Project, construction of Mirpur Road Flyover, Elevated Expressway
and the Marine Drive from Cox’s Bazaar to Teknaf have been greatly
appreciated by the nation. A UNO Complex has been built at Rajen-
drapur Cantonment for training of the soldiers taking part in UN Peace-
Keeping Missions.

Because of the foreign policy followed by the Awami League, the

image of Bangladesh has become brighter and its stature has increased.
Bangladesh has won sovereignty over 1, 11,631 sq. kilometers of sea
areas (which is 75 per cent of the total area of Bangladesh) as a result
of a peaceful solution to the maritime dispute with Myanmar. Friend-
ship with neighbouring countries like India, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan
and Sri Lanka has become stronger and mutually co-operative pro-
grams between two or more countries have been expanded.

21
 Treaties about identifying the land border between Bangladesh and
India and about handing over the Chhitmahals have been signed.
Initiatives have been taken to produce electricity by using the river
current based on collaboration with India, Bhutan, and Nepal at a
sub-regional level. To stop the movement of the Rohingas and deal
with Rohingas currently living in our country, Bangladesh is con-
tinuing its diplomatic efforts. Bangladesh is participating actively
in SAARC, BIMSTEK, D-8, Asian Regional Forum (ARF), Asia
Co-operation Dialogue (ACD), Asia Europe Meeting (AsEM) and
other important forums to pluralize the fields of co-operation at re-
gional, sub regional and international levels. An active role is being
played in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to look after
the interests of our country. Bangladesh is also playing a part in dif-
ferent initiatives taken in the economic corridor of Bangladesh,
China, India and Myanmar (BCIM). Member countries of BIM-
STEK have decided to found its headquarter in Dhaka. Awami
League has given special priority to the issues of increasing co-op-
eration with the members of the Muslim community all over the
world, upholding the interests of the emigrants and non-resident
citizens and climate change. The resolution of our government to
not let any of the separationist, militant or international terrorist
groups use our land has ensured safety and stability in the south-
Asian region.

Bangladesh’s active role-playing contribution and proposition

under the leadership of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in many
forums including the United Nations have been highly appreciated.
The United Nations has taken into account the model Prime Min-
ister Sheikh Hasina had proposed for peace and prosperity.

For achieving success in different aspects of internal and interna-

tional affairs, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been awarded
MDG Award 2010, Indira Gandhi Peace Award 2010, South-South
Award 2011, UNESCO Cultural Diversity Award 2012, FAO
Diploma Award 2013, and South-South Co-operation 2013.

The Opposition’s Politics of Non-Cooperation, Destruction and

Conflict
The BNP-Jamaat Alliance could never come to terms with their defeat
in the 2008 electoral race. They adopted a course of non-cooperation,
conspiracy and conflict right from day one. BNP, in league with Jamaat-
E-Islami, made several abortive attempts to incite rebellion in the military

22
and thereby threaten the democratic process, using the infamous BDR
mutiny. Ever since the beginning of the trial of the war criminals of 1971,
the BNP leadership has desperately tried to save the war criminals. They
have systematically caused chaos throughout the country with acts such
as mass killings, inciting communal and religious hatred, deploying the
extremist religious group styled “Hefazat-E-Islam”, setting fire to
mosques and thousands of copies of the Holy Quran, indiscriminately
killing police, army and BGB officers and burning members of the public
to death. Against the backdrop of the war crimes trials and the cancella-
tion of the registration of the Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party, BNP
has now chosen to take up the mantle from Jamaat themselves. They ab-
stained from attending Parliament and refrained from cooperating in the
process of amendment of the Constitution despite the fact that they took
salaries, allowances other facilities available to MPs. They blocked all
means to a compromise on the question of an election time government
and a peaceful solution to political crisis by refusing the invitation for a
dialogue extended to Begum Khaleda Zia over the phone from the Prime
Minster.

The BNP-Jamaat alliance in the name of uninterrupted hartal have en-

gaged themselves in the conspiracy of destabilizing the country. In the
wake of the trial of the war criminals, and the cancellation of the regis-
tration of Jamaat, BNP itself has taken up the role of Jamaat. As they had
denied the independence of Bangladesh, the spirit of the War of Libera-
tion and the constitutional values of the country, they have now indulged
in overturning the development process initiated by the Awami League
Government under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina during the last five
years. They seek to render Bangladesh into a terrorist and militant state
and take the country to a dark age.

The people of the country will fight out all conspiracies of evil forces by
participating in the upcoming national parliamentary election to be held
in a free, fair and credible manner. The people of Bangladesh will not let
their country become a land of terrorists and militants.

Following a landslide victory in the election of 2008, Bangladesh Awami

League, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formed
government on 6th January 2009 and paved a way to peace, democracy,
development and prosperity for the people of this country. Bangladesh
must be carried forward along that road. We have started working on the
materialization of the “Vision-2021”, declared in the election manifesto
of 2008. We have kept almost all of our promises. Many of the projects
are on their way to completion, while many more development projects
adopted in the meanwhile are waiting to be implemented. Once all these

23
projects are implemented, Bangladesh will become a middle income
country. Bangladesh Awami League is firmly resolute to transform
Bangladesh into a prosperous country free from hunger, poverty and il-
literacy. We want to celebrate the birth centenary of the Father of the Na-
tion, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in 2020 and the 50th
Anniversary of our Liberation in 2021 by carrying out this solemn duty.

Now we are looking beyond 2021, extending our vision to the year
2050—a time when Bangladesh will be recognized as a prosperous and
developed country in the eyes of its people and the rest of the world.
Bangladesh Awami League has formulated their manifesto for this elec-
tion to point out the things that we must do in order for this glittering
dream of the future to materialise.

The National Charter for

Peace, Democracy, Development and Prosperity
Bangladesh, despite accumulated problems and impediments of the past,
has been on the highway of development and prosperity since 2009 under
the dynamic leadership of the people’s leader Sheikh Hasina. We must
move forward along this way. The people of the country want peace, not
conflict. They do not want to go back to any unconstitutional regime or
to autocracy. They want to keep the radiant march of democracy on-
going. The people want sustainable development and a safe, vibrant,
happy, beautiful and prosperous Bangladesh for the new generation. In
order to implement the hopes and aspirations of the 160 million people
of Bangladesh and, above all, in commitment to our assertion to build
the golden Bangla dreamt of by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu,
we announce here the national charter and the programme “Marching
Ahead Bangladesh”.

Our Objectives and Declaration

The ultimate objectives of Awami League are to achieve socio-eco-

nomic freedom of the people and to build a developed and prosper-
ous country free from hunger and poverty. With this end in view
the development and progress made during 2009 to 2013 will be
sustained. The unfinished and under-implementation development
programmes and projects taken up during 2008 to 2013 will be
completed in time. Initiatives will be taken to implement on a pri-
ority basis the programmes and projects which have been prepared

24
or approved and of which necessary funding provisions are already
decided.

Our immediate objective is to implement the Vision- 2021. The Per-

spective Plan 2010-21 has been prepared to facilitate this. This Per-
spective Plan will be re-evaluated and adjusted to our present
Election Manifesto 2014. The implementation of the Sixth Five
Year Plan and the preparation of the Seventh Five Year Plan will
be done by 2015. If the Perspective Plan and the Five Year Plans
are implemented the per capita income will increase to 1500 dollar
in 2021 from the present 1044 dollar. The growth rate of the econ-
omy will rise to 10 per cent from the present 6.2 per cent and the
poverty indicator will come down to 13 per cent from the present
26 per cent. The production of electricity will increase to 24000
megawatt from the present 10000 megawatt. The share of industries
in national income owing to industrialization will rise to 40 per cent
from 25 per cent and the labour manpower will reach 25 per cent
from 15. Our immediate goal is to upgrade Bangladesh to a genuine
middle income country.

Our long term objective is to advance Bangladesh to the level of

the first line developed countries of the world. We shall prepare an
outline of a long term Development Strategy in this regard. After
the implementation of Vision- 2021 we shall prepare in several
phases the specific Perspective Plan and subsequent five year plans
to achieve this long term objective.

The ultimate goal of all our activities is to build in the spirit of the
War of Liberation a peaceful, secular, democratic and equal society
and state that is free from enmity, strife, oppression and disparity.
Our only pledge is to lay the foundation for a safe and prosperous
Bangladesh for the children and young people of today and for the
people of the next generation.

Our Priorities for this Term: Good Governance, Democratiza-

tion and Decentralization of Power

Peace and Stability: Peace, discipline and stability will be estab-

lished in all spheres of national and social life by eliminating vio-
lence, terrorism and communalism. The safety of the lives of the
citizens and their basic rights of actions and movements will be en-
sured.

25
 Constitution and Parliament: The Constitution will be protected
and the democracy and the democratic institutions will be estab-
lished on more solid basis. All necessary steps will be taken to make
the Parliament effective. Necessary rules and regulations will be
framed to ensure the accountability of the members on their collec-
tive and personal activities inside and outside the Parliament, trans-
parency and responsibility to the people.

National Consensus: Initiatives will be taken to create national

consensus among all political parties, classes & professional organ-
izations, civil societies irrespective of groups and opinions on basic
issues such as upholding democratic process and ensuring uninter-
rupted development.

Trial of the War Criminals: Communalism- Terrorism: The trial

of the war criminals will be completed and the sentences will be
implemented. The criminals involved in murder, terrorism, putting
the Holy Quran to fire, setting fire to the industries & factories, up-
rooting fishplates of railway lines, destroying properties of people
& the state including cutting roads, attacking the minority commu-
nities, destroying the places of worship, arson, looting and felling
of trees in the name of movements in a bid to foil the trial of the
war criminals, will be tried. Steps will be taken to rehabilitate the
economy, including supporting affected mills and factories, to give
assistance to the affected persons and to reconstruct the institutions
destroyed by sabotage. The right to practice respective religions of
all citizens will be ensured. Equal rights and equal opportunities of
all citizens irrespective of religion, caste, anthropological identity,
gender and social status will be ensured.

Judiciary and the Rule of Law: The independence and the esteem
of the judiciary will be protected. Steps under implementation to
increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the judiciary, including
the necessary legal reforms undertaken in order to make justice
available to people at all levels and to dispose of cases in minimum
possible time by removing case congestion, will continue in future.
Equal application of law for all, the rule of law and the measures
for establishing human rights will be strengthened. An Ombudsman
will be appointed and the independent Human Rights Commission
will be made a more effective institution.

Election System: The initiatives taken in the meantime to establish

a reliable and permanent election system will be integrated and put
on a solid foundation. The Election Commission has been estab-

26
lished as an institution more powerful, efficient and independent
than before. It will be made more powerful and effective in future.
The reforms in the election system will continue as per the needs
of the time.

Decentralization of Power, Local Government and Administra-

tion: Power will be decentralized with a view to empowering the
people and encouraging greater citizen participation in the operation
of the governmental and national development activities. More au-
thority and responsibility will be delegated to the Zilla Parishad,
Upazilla Parishad and Union Parishad through democratic reorgan-
ization of the present centralized administrative structure. Various
development programmes related to education, health, law & order,
infrastructure development and social security will be placed to the
local government as per hierarchical status. Integrated work plans
will be taken to make the local government systems at each level
more powerful and responsible. In order to establish good gover-
nance in all spheres of governmental and social lives, transparency,
accountability and responsibility will be enhanced. Administrative
reforms and the procedures for enhancing efficiency and facilities
of the government officers and staff will remain on-going. E-gov-
ernance will be expanded to all levels.

Curbing Corruption: Legal, political, social and institutional ini-

tiatives in curbing corruption will be strengthened. The effective-
ness of the Anti-Corruption Commission will be enhanced further
by increasing the power and efficiency of the organization. Strong
measures will be taken to resist bribery, unearned income, black
money, rent seeking, loan default, tender-grabbing & muscle power,
and to eliminate corruption. Accountability of citizens of all levels
as regards their own assets and means of earning will be ensured.

Police and Law and Order Forces: All branches of the law and
order forces have been made stronger and more efficient and
equipped with modern equipment for providing security to the peo-
ple and peace in industries and to make development works, goods
transportation & import-export smooth, and to resist rent seeking
& terrorism with strong hands. They will be developed further in
future in concurrence with the needs of time. Police and other law
enforcing forces will be kept free from party influences. The im-
provement in the standard of living, the enhanced facilities regard-
ing accommodation of the family members, education and medical
treatment will follow the same trend in future. Initiatives will also
be taken to decentralize the police administration.

27
 Improvements in the Standard of Living, Prices of Goods and
Macro Economics

Steps will be taken to continuously improve the standard of living

of the people, enhance their means of earning and keep the price of
food and essentials stable and within their purchasing power. The
pace of progress in indigenous production will be kept on-going
and the production and supply of food related consumer goods will
be ensured. Around the clock surveillance of the marketing system
will be given highest priority. Consumer rights will be given an in-
stitutional shape and the business syndicates will be faced with the
help of the consumers. Any attempt to create artificial crisis in the
market will be restrained with strong hands.

In order to ensure socio-economic progress and growth, the balance

of macroeconomics will be strengthened. The collection of revenue
will be increased through administrative efficiency. The principle
of customs duty will be business friendly. The deficit expenditure
of the government will be kept to the minimum. The principle of
currency conversion will be flexible. Deficit control and balance
will be maintained in foreign transactions. The macroeconomic bal-
ance will keep inflation in control. The principle of the recovery of
full cost will be applied in public procurements and subsidy will be
aimed at reducing the suffering of the people and for the purpose
of providing special services.

Our Important Socio-Economic Programmes

Industrialization

Industrialization is one of the pre-requisites for making Bangladesh

a middle income country by 2021. In order to create employment
and lay the foundation for industrial civilization, highest importance
will be given to attracting investors from home and abroad and non-
resident Bangalees for investment. The industrialization strategy
will involve an increase in facilities related to physical infrastruc-
ture, simplification of laws and rules for reducing administrative
and bureaucratic complexity and delays, making one stop services
effective, curbing corruption, creating an investment friendly po-
litical and social environment, expansion of internal markets & si-
multaneous diversification of exportable goods and providing the
investors with reasonable revenue and financial incentives. For this
the integrated industrial policy and strategy paper as prepared will
be upgraded further in future.

28
 The willing and efficient industrial entrepreneurs of the identified
prospective industries like food and agricultural processing, ship
building, light engineering, medicine, plastic, dolls, household
items, IT, leather and chemical industries will be given financial
support. The pace of regeneration and modernization of the jute in-
dustry will be accelerated. Entrepreneurs will be encouraged to es-
tablish new industries in the context of the prospect of the
alternative use of jute created by the discovery of the genetic code
of jute. The garments and textile industries will be made stronger,
safer and more competitive.

The projects for establishing special economic zones and industrial

areas will be implemented speedily. Establishment of agriculture
based and other small and medium industries in mofussil and mar-
ginal localities, and the full use of the facilities of industrialization
of the existing EPZs will be encouraged. The creation of infrastruc-
ture in less developed areas and the provision of revenue and finan-
cial assistance will receive priority.

Loans at low rates of interest and refinancing arrangements will

continue for the labour intensive small, medium and cottage indus-
tries. Special arrangements and other assistance to female investors
in small and medium industries will continue and be expanded fur-
ther. Those who have paid customs & taxes and bank loans as per
schedule and have demonstrated special efficiency in organizing
will be given assistance on priority basis.

Special assistance will be given to the rural industries including tra-

ditional weaving, copper, bronze and pottery. The widening of in-
ternal and external trade, the expansion of the market and the
increase of export will be encouraged. The increase of manpower
export, the profitable and productive investment of remittances
from abroad and the expansion of tourism industries will be exten-
sively assisted. Special steps will be taken to ensure trouble-free
transportation and movements of domestic and export goods.

Power and Energy

The pace of progress in the Power and Energy sector will continue
and be made faster. In the process of achieving the targets of the
middle term and long term programmes of electricity production,
prepared and being implemented by the Great Alliance Govern-
ment, the supply of electricity to every household in Bangladesh in
the next five years will be ensured. The production of power will

29
 rise to 16000 megawatts by 2016. The target for the production of
power in 2021 had been fixed at 20000 megawatts. This target has
been upgraded to 24000 megawatts in view of industrialization, in-
creased demand for electricity and enhanced power production ca-
pability. In order to meet the increased demand for electricity,
initiatives will be taken to implement the proposal for power pro-
duction-sharing through bilateral, tri-lateral and regional coopera-
tion with neighbouring countries such as India, Nepal and Bhutan,
along with increasing internal production. The use of solar energy
will be made easily available and extensive through the planned in-
stallation of 30 lakh solar panels. The construction of Rampal
Power Plant and Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will be completed
in scheduled time. Establishing a dependable long term solution to
the power and energy problems of Bangladesh will be a key objec-
tive for the proper economic use of coal resources. An already taken
project intended to create a plant which will generate 1300
megawatts of coal will be implemented and the required coal will
be imported. The share of the coal based power production will be
around 50 per cent by 2030.

Rational extraction and use of gas will be ensured. The principle of

empowering the national institute BAPEX will continue. More rigs,
modern equipment and technology will be procured to strengthen
BAPEX in the exploration and extraction of oil and gas. Priority
will be given to the exploration of new gas and oil fields. Attempts
of cooperation with other countries and organizations will be
strengthened after upholding national interest in the exploration and
extraction of gas in coastal and deep sea areas of Bangladesh. The
initiatives to distribute gas in the remaining north and western dis-
tricts will continue. Steps to reduce waste by increasing efficiency
in electricity and gas management will be on-going. As the reserve
of natural gas is limited, the on-going process of importing NLG
from abroad will be completed. In order to achieve this, necessary
infrastructure including an NLG terminal will be constructed in Ma-
heshkhali Island.

War Against Poverty

The success of the Grand Alliance Government in eliminating

poverty will continue. The success of Bangladesh in achieving the
Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of the United Nations in
creating a society free from hunger and poverty is internationally
acknowledged. The objective of Awami League’s strategy on the
elimination of poverty is to bring down the ratio of poverty below

30
15 per cent i.e. to 13 per cent. Meanwhile the rate of the elimination
of poverty has improved to 2.4 per cent from 1.7. If the achievement
keeps on exceeding the target as at present, the poverty ratio will
come down to below 15 per cent in the next five years ahead of
2021. The present trend of eliminating disparity will continue.

Social Security

The dynamism achieved in the rural economy through poverty re-

duction and the creation of a sustainable security net for the ultra-
poor will be strengthened further. In addition to attaining food
security for the people and the free distribution of food for the ultra-
poor and distressed, other programmes innovated by Awami League
Government such as food for work and test relief, ‘one house one
farm’, asrayon (sheltering), housing, model village, cluster villages
and ‘return to home’ have proven successful. These programmes
will continue. Apart from this, the Old Age Allowances, Distressed
Women Allowances, and the Allowances for the Widows and Aban-
doned Women will continue as usual. Programmes for the employ-
ment of the poor will be increased in the village levels in phases.
The rural population will be encouraged to keep savings and a rural
savings bank will be established. Special arrangements for social
security programmes for poverty stricken areas will continue. Co-
ordination will be made among the programmes taken under a so-
cial security strategy so that objectives are achieved quickly and
effectively.

The initiative to introduce pension schemes in private institutions

in the light of the current economic climate will start from 2018. A
National Pension System for ensuring social security to all will be
finalized in 2021.

Employment

The main objectives of the Employment Policy of Awami League

are to create product oriented employment and to transform the in-
efficient populace into semi efficient and efficient manpower. To
achieve this objective the following steps will be implemented: a)
the vocational and technical education system will be recast to de-
velop human resources and coordination among various institutions
will be strengthened; b) employment will be created through the
development of rural infrastructure and the progress of civil works;
c) the medium and small sized industries sector will be strength-
ened; d) self-employment will be strengthened though the provision

31
 of loans to trained youths and young women in particular; e) the
“national service” programme, introduced currently for employ-
ment for two years, will be extended to all districts in phases; f) ex-
port of manpower for foreign employment will be increased; g) the
existing employment opportunities in the agricultural and service
sectors will be extended further, and extensive social employment
and other steps will be taken and implemented. For this, human re-
sources development and the education and training systems of vo-
cations and professions will be coordinated and expanded.

The role of the informal sector is very important in arranging em-

ployment for all employed and pseudo employed persons by 2021.
The share of the informal sector in national income is 30 per cent;
45 per cent of the employment of the labour force comes from in-
formal sector. Necessary funding and supply of technology will be
made for the flourishing of cottage industries, weaving, rickshaws
and van, and opportunities will be created to increase the efficiency
of existing manpower. In order to reduce pseudo unemployment
and poverty the informal sector will be made more dynamic and
productive and its relationship with the formal sector will be made
closer.

Agriculture, Food, Land and Rural Development

Meeting the demand for nutrition of the people and the trend for
achieving self sufficiency in food will be integrated. Ensuring food
security while taking into consideration the increase in the number
of population, ensuring Bangladesh has a food surplus, making the
country an exporter in food and having a dependable crisis period
reserve will the main objectives of agricultural development. For
this the tradition of providing fertilizers, seeds, irrigation, subsidies
in agricultural inputs, loans in subsidized rates and ensuring proper
prices for agricultural products will be kept on-going. The system
of providing loans to share croppers without collaterals through Kr-
ishi Bank will continue. The transparency and efficiency that has
developed in the distribution of agricultural inputs and subsidies
through cards to avoid irregularities and corruption will continue.
Policies aimed at increasing irrigation facilities and preserving and
utilizing surface water will remain on-going.

Attempts at making varieties in the production of various crops other

than rice, such as wheat, maize, vegetables, oil seeds, spices & fruits
and flowers, leaves and herbs will be strengthened. The production of
edible oil will be increased to meet the demands of the country.

32
Revenue and financial support will be provided at manufacturer level
to increase production of fish, eggs, poultry, cattle and salt and for ex-
port after the country’s needs have been met. Industries based on agri-
cultural products will be encouraged specially and will be given
incentives. In order to increase the production of sugar, high yielding
varieties will be invented and per acre production will be increased. At
the same time emphasis will be given to extending beet cultivation.
Steps will be taken to reduce the cost of production by modernizing
the sugar mills, stopping waste and corruption and creating facilities
for food processing to make the mills profitable.

Agricultural research will be given the highest importance. The trend

of discovering new genetic codes for jute and other cash crops and in-
venting draught, salinity and high water tolerant high yielding varieties
will be moved ahead. Innovations in biotechnology and engineering
and their utilization will be given due importance.

The policy devoted to ensuring food security, curbing inflation and

increasing efficiency in food management for maintaining stability
will continue. Not only the quantity, but also the availability, of nu-
tritious balanced food for every individual will be ensured. The pol-
icy of buying food grains at motivational prices and keeping
sufficient reserves of food will continue in order to incentivise agri-
cultural production.

To ensure safe food free from impurities and chemical elements a

“Safe Food Authority” will be constituted in the process of the im-
plementation of the “Bangladesh Safe Food Act- 2013”, which was
passed to stop the mixing of impurities and injurious chemical ele-
ments in food.

A scientific land management policy will be taken to control the

alarming rate of reduction of habitable land and water bodies owing
to industrialization, housing and increasing urbanization. The dig-
italization of the record of all land in the country will be completed
in the next five years. A long term work plan will be implemented
to achieve maximum rational utilization of land and preservation
of natural environment. Government owned land, water bodies and
land emerged from rivers and sea will be distributed to landless,
homeless and ultra-poor citizens on a priority basis.

Creating employment in rural areas, extension of urban facilities to

rural areas and the reduction of migration to towns and cities will
be the objectives of rural development. Every Union headquarter

33
 will be turned into a planned rural township. Upazilla headquarters
and the advanced industrial centres will be developed into modern
urban or suburban areas by providing improved housing, education,
expansion of agro-based industries, medical services, electricity,
gas, drinking water and drainage systems.

Education and Human Development

Education and human development will play a pivotal role in our

national development. Highest importance will be given to main-
taining uninterrupted continuity of the policies adopted during the
tenure 2009-13 and the successes achieved. The present Education
Policy will be implemented on a priority basis, and the necessary
allocations in the education sector will be increased.

The level of primary education will be upgraded to class eight from

class five and education up to class eight will be made free of fees.
To encourage women’s education, the stipend programme for fe-
male students will remain on-going. Scholarships are already being
given to students up to Degree classes from the currently constituted
Prime Minister’s Education Assistance Trust Fund. These activities
will be extended further. Distribution of free text books will be in-
creased in line with the rate of admission and the number of stu-
dents. In order to achieve 100 per cent literacy the non-formal
education programme for adults will be implemented.

The improvement of the standard of education will get highest im-

portance. In order to achieve this, the reduction in student teacher
ratio from primary to higher secondary level, creation of required
posts & appointment of teachers, teachers’ training and the use of
communication technology and multi-media in classrooms have
been started. The use of these new facilities will extend to all insti-
tutions in future. The infrastructure facilities of the educational in-
stitutions will be increased continuously. The teachers of secondary
and higher secondary levels will get separate pay scales, and a per-
manent pay commission will be constituted. More effective steps
will be taken to stop drop outs at primary and secondary levels.

Development of human resources is one of our key priorities. The

predominance of children and young people in our population de-
mands special importance to this issue. Meanwhile we have taken
an overall strategy for human resources development in cooperation
with some development partners. In respect of vocational and tech-
nical education, coordination and cooperation among various insti-

34
tutions and between private sector and government initiatives will
be strengthened further as part of this strategy. The curriculum will
also be updated and made relevant as per needs of our students. The
continuing task of recasting the training facilities in vocational and
technical education and in various professions and technologies will
be completed and implemented throughout the country. The exist-
ing programme of establishing technical schools in each upazilla
will be completed soon. For the expansion of vocational and tech-
nical education throughout the country, the work plan for introduc-
ing vocational training courses in secondary and higher secondary
schools and madrasas will also be implemented and extended. In
addition, the programme of establishing a model schools in each
upazilla will be implemented. The initiatives which have already
been taken to introduce computer and honours courses for upgrad-
ing the madrasa education in line with the mainstream education
will remain ongoing.

The programme of establishing a university in each district by

phases through government and non-government initiatives in order
to improve higher education and solve problems associated with
admissions will continue. The policy for giving approvals for es-
tablishing universities of adequate standards in the private sector
will continue. Scientific research and practicing sciences in public
and private universities will be encouraged.

Strict measures will be taken to eliminate terrorism, political mal-

practices, grouping and session jam from educational institutes. The
administrative and organizational system of the public universities
will be made more democratic, transparent, and accountable. Side
by side, the university ordinances will be re-evaluated and neces-
sary amendments will be made so that educational activities are not
hampered due to petty groupings of the teachers. The organizational
system of schools and colleges will also be made free from group-
ing, will be more democratic, and participative by local people, re-
sponsible, transparent and accountable.

Science and Technology

In the context of a huge population, scarcity of natural resources,

and accelerated urbanization and industrialization highest priority
will be given to optimize use of cultivable land and water bodies
with a view to maximizing productivity in the agricultural sector
particularly in research and development (NRD). With the aim to
build a developed and prosperous country special emphasis will be

35
 given by the state on scientific research and development of tech-
nology and knowledge. Along with the creation of opportunities for
scientific research, scientists and researchers will be given impetus
with regard to emoluments and tenure of service so that they are
able to complete their research and engage themselves with new
inventions and discoveries.

Great possibilities in the science and technology sector can be

utilised by taking proper steps in creating implementable pro-
grammes which will be updated from time to time. In the primary
and secondary levels of education, opportunities for IT learning
shall be expanded by providing teachers’ training, proper laborato-
ries, multi-media use and expansion of internet connections. In the
primary and secondary levels, IT education shall be made compul-
sory. In the area of higher education, computer education shall be
expanded significantly.

Expansions of software industry spread of IT services, establishment

of high-tech and Software Technology Parks as well as ICT incubator
and computer village programmes have already started. Programmes
of implementation in this area shall be accelerated. At the same time
assistance will be on-going on outsourcing and software export.

10.3 Speedy and wide-spread internet services such as 3-G have already
begun around the country. Similarly 4-G will also be introduced.
The programmes of building up digital Bangladesh will go on and a
knowledge based society will emerge.

Health and Family Planning

11.1Implementation of health policy and programmes shall be on-going.

To ensure health services to all, 13 thousand community clinics are
now working. Arrangements shall be made for child and mother care
and proper facilities for safe child birth will be provided in commu-
nity clinics and union health complexes. For this purpose, each
health centre will give priority to the employment of trained nurses
and female doctors. In order to reduce maternal death rate to the
MDG target of 143 per thousand in 2015, the programmes in this
area will be further strengthened. Endeavours will be made in all the
community clinics to provide the facilities to examine blood pressure
and blood sugar for patients with diabetes. Efforts to reduce infant
mortality rate and to improve child health care will go on. Within
the year 2021 average life expectancy is targeted to rise to 72 years.
With a view to reducing population growth rate, the birth control

36
 policy shall be implemented by providing accessible reproductive
health care services. Improvements will be made in monitoring the
services of field health workers so that their presence is ensured and
there is a marked improvement in the services as well as in the po-
sition of availability of medicines. Specialized health care facilities
will be introduced at Upazilla levels from district levels by phases
and this effort will be accelerated. Tele-medicine system shall also
be expanded significantly.

In order to provide safe and arsenic free drinking water to all,

as well as to arrange for sanitation and chemical free food items,
efforts will be made and accelerated further.

11.3 All efforts will be made to improve the standards of health care ed-
ucation. Medical specialists and educationalists will be involved in
the process of ensuring proper standard and quality of public and
private medical colleges and hospitals. Healthcare and medical ed-
ucation controlling entities will be targeted to improve their capac-
ities and efficiencies. Training facilities for higher education in
nursing and medical technology shall be created and expanded.

11.4 Infrastructural, institutional and technological facilities shall be in-

creased to improve the standard of education on indigenous medi-
cines including Unani, Ayurveda and Homeopathy.

11.5 Efforts will be directed towards combating contagious disease and

at the same time planned efforts will be made to create and expand
facilities to deal with the alarming prevalence of non-contagious dis-
eases such as diabetes and hypertension.

11.6 The programmes taken for the welfare of the disabled by Awami
League Government will be further strengthened. Scientific practical
work programmes will be taken in hand and be implemented to pro-
vide for the education, nutrition, physical and mental development,
employment, movements and social status of autistic and other dis-
abled persons.

Empowerment of Women and Gender Equality

Women’s development policy-2011 shall be firmly persueed and

implemented. In all areas of national and social life, not only will
numerical equity be ensured but opportunities will be created so
that women’s participation in society and workplaces steadily in-
creases. In the higher echelons of administration and other institu-

37
 tions, the policy of encouraging more female engagement will con-
tinue.

12.2 Proper implementation of enactments relating to stopping violence,

sexual abuse, harassment and disparity towards women will be vig-
orously persued and implemented and the same strictness will fol-
low with regard to the trafficking of women and children.

12.3 Freedom to choose professions and free movements at the work

place of women will be ensured. Side by side with political efforts
to prevent anti women propaganda by misinterpreting religious
tenets in order to confine women within the households, proper so-
cial movements and strict legal actions will be initiated. Proper as-
sessment will be made for female labour and proper emoluments
ensured. In the field of trade and industry, as well as in the services
sector the special incentives already provided to women entrepre-
neurs will be continued and expanded.

Children, Adolescents and the Young Generation

Access to education, sports, entertainments and creative cultural ac-

tivities will be ensured and expanded for children, the adolescents
and young people so that their need for nutrition and physical and
mental development is properly looked after. The UN Charter for
the preservation of rights of children will be followed and the Na-
tional Child Policy will be updated. Multi-level programmes will be
taken up to ensure a happy childhood for the children and facilities
will be made to instil a sense of history, love for knowledge and sci-
entific approach to life. Following the garments sector, the use of
child labour in industrial sectors will be stopped by phases. Child
abuse, and particularly abuse of girl children, and violence will be
stopped and their security will be ensured. The use of children in
political activities and as human shields during acts of terrorism and
violence will be strongly combated and subdued.

13.2 The majority of our population are the young people. Bangladesh is
a country of young people full of life and creativity. Awami League
will take all possible steps to make all facilities wide open to them
in order to provide these young people with the education, employ-
ment and opportunities they need to develop their capabilities and
talents to the fullest extent. We hope that they will become capable
of shouldering national leadership in the days to come. The Awami
League will invite the new generation to take the responsibility of
building up a prosperous Bangladesh of tomorrow.

38
Transportation: Roads and Highways, Railway, Aviation, and Water
Transport.

The existing means of transportation in the country are not sufficient to

cater to the needs of the ever expanding economy. Based on priority, the
existing road networks will be maintained, improved and expanded, in-
cluding increasing the number of lanes on a priority basis. Particular focus
will be given to: a) Completion of the on-going construction of the Padma
Bridge, b) Building a tunnel under the river bed of Karnafuli River in
Chittagong, c) Finishing the construction of the four-lane Dhaka-Chit-
tagong and Dhaka–Mymensingh highways, d) Construction of the coun-
try’s third sea-port at Payrabandar in Patuakhali. In addition, the
construction of the four-lanes on the Dhaka-Mongla and Dhaka-Tangail-
Bangabandhu Bridge will be expeditiously implemented. The existing
roads will be widened and new highways will be built to meet the ever
increasing demands of the economy.

14.2 Necessary technical and other ancillary steps will be taken to see
that the second Jamuna Bridge and the second Padma Bridge are
completed within the next five years. A project for creating a deep
sea port at Sonadia will be implemented.

14.3 Bangladesh Railway will be thoroughly reformed giving due weight

to the eco-friendliness and cost potential. Increased investments in
the railway sector will also continue. Measures will be taken to repair
and modernize the existing rail tracks and rolling stocks, as well as
raise the railway’s passenger and goods carriage capacity. New rail
tracks will be laid to connect Khulna with Mongla and the number
of tracks on the present Narayanganj-Dhaka-Gazipur and Dhaka-
Chittagong rail routes will be increased. New rail tracks will be laid
to connect Dhaka with Mongla, and Chittagong with Cox’s Bazar.
Circular rail tracks around Dhaka will also be built. Manpower will
be increased and efficiency levels will be raised to ensure the Rail-
way’s commercial competitiveness. All measures will be taken to
make the railways a profitable and efficient entity.

14.4 The initiatives taken by the Awami League Government to increase

the transportation capacity of Bangladesh Biman, thus transforming
Biman into a profitable entity, will have to be further strengthened.
Four new Boeing airplanes have been procured. Biman’s interna-
tional competitiveness will be raised and its reliability level height-
ened through the procurement of more aircrafts and the combatting
of wastage, inefficiency and corruption. From 2014 the Dhaka-New
York flight will be reintroduced.

39
 Expansion work on Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar airports will be imple-
mented, and construction of Mongla Airport will be taken up afresh.

Finalization of the location and inauguration of the construction of

the proposed modern Bangabandhu International Airport designed
to serve as an inter-regional communication hub in the outskirts of
Dhaka will be accomplished.

14.5 The vast project to revitalize the waterways by digging key rivers
will be strengthened further. The waterways of our riverine country
will be reclaimed by digging the riverbeds of the gradually filled-up
rivers making them more navigable. Aside from increasing the nav-
igability of the rivers, overhead projects already undertaken to revi-
talize the abandoned waterways of the country through dredging will
also continue. Dredgers have been procured for this purpose.
Dredgers to be used solely in Mongla Port have been bought. Exist-
ing operations designed to augment the goods handling capacity of
Chittagong and Mongla ports and to keep the river channels navi-
gable through regular grudging will also continue.

14.6 Steps already undertaken to prevent accidents on highways, rail-

ways, and river ways and to build up a safe road network will con-
tinue.

Prevention of Drug Addiction

Drug addiction in our country is increasing at an alarming rate. The youth

of our country are the main victims of drug abuse. Necessary measures
will be taken to save our society and youth from the dangers of drug ad-
diction. Trading, trafficking and drug use will be diminished and targeted.
Usage of other drugs, like tobacco, which has harmful effects on health,
will be discouraged by regulating the production and marketing of all the
tobacco related products. Necessary measures shall be taken to eliminate
other anti-social activities such as betting.

15.2 Efforts from all Government and Non-government Organizations

will be taken to rehabilitate drug addicts. Prevention measures to
stop production, trafficking and trading of drugs will be taken in uni-
son with neighbouring countries.

Climate Change: Environment and Water Resource

Bangladesh is one of the worst victims of climate change resulting from

global warming. The initiatives taken by the Awami League Government
to resolve the resulting crisis and to preserve the eco-system will be con-

40
tinued and expanded. The Work Plan taken in 2009 by the Government
to cope with climate-change will be updated and evaluated. Financing the
Climate-Trust Fund will go on and more assistance will be sought from
the international community.

16.2 Special importance will be attached to the preservation of existing

forests, creation of new forests, preservation of bio-diversity, and
sustainable forestation in coastal areas. In addition to the above men-
tioned steps to prevent natural disasters, coordinated plans will be
adopted and implemented to preserve water resources, prevent river
erosion and flooding, prevent salinity and deal with drought. Initia-
tives will be taken to implement the Ganga-Barrage Project with a
view to expand the irrigation facility, preventing salinity, augmenting
the flow of sweet water in the areas surrounding the Sundarbans and
increasing power generation.

16.3 Waste treatment in the cities and megacities will be modernized sci-
entifically to save the cities from air and water pollution. The tech-
nical and legal measures already undertaken towards that end will
be implemented with more vigour. Effective measures shall be taken
to control sound pollution.

Labour and Manpower

Awami League is firmly committed to put in place a Labour Policy com-

patible with Chapters 15, 28, 38 and 40 of the Constitution of the country
as well as with the ILO convention and to implement multifaceted meas-
ures to implement labour welfare. The government’s on-going programme
for fulfilling minimum wages for workers and adjusting such wages in
pace with living expenses, inflation and growth rate of the economy, will
go on. Towards that end, the role of the Wages Commission and the related
laws of the land will be brought under sharper focus. In parallel with steps
to provide trade-based training for workers, and the resultant increase in
their productivity, their right to trade unionism will also be ensured.

Minimum wages and a safe work-environment for workers will be en-

sured. Maintenance of security and peace in the industries will be given
special priority. All factory workers, agricultural labourers and those
below the poverty line will be provided with rationing facilities.

17.3 Migrant workers and the remittances sent by them are the life line
of our economy. Policies aimed at increasing the number of trained
workers abroad and funnelling their remittances to profitable invest-
ments will be formulated and implemented.

41
 The recently established Emigrant Welfare Bank will offer loans in
soft terms/interest to intending workers, facilitating their movement
abroad and finding permanent employment on their way home.
More technical institutions will be established to train workers vo-
cationally to increase overseas employment remittance. Procedures
already underway to open new Labour Wings in our missions in 23
countries across Europe, Africa and Asia, with a view to augment
export of our manpower, will be expedited.

Urbanization: Planned Development

According to the census held in 2011, the number of people living in the
cities is about 40 million, while the rate of urbanization is approximately
28 per cent. Except Nepal, Bangladesh remains the only country in South
Asia to post a maximum annual growth of 5% in its urban population.
But there is currently no corresponding increase in urban facilities. Un-
planned urbanization is causing untold sufferings to city dwellers. Awami
league will draw up and implement a coordinated urbanization plan for
the whole country in future.

Employment and urban facilities will be created in villages, with a

view to curbing the migration of people from villages to cities.
Planned living districts and rural towns will be created in the Union
headquarters, upazillas and industrial estates, sub-districts and in-
dustrial areas. The government will tackle the effects of unplanned
urbanization, such as the diminishing of arable lands and water bod-
ies, and ensure the optimum use of land.

18.2 The master plan drawn up for developing Dhaka city will be imple-
mented expeditiously. The on-going projects for setting up the four
proposed satellite cities will be completed soon to minimize the bur-
den of a rising population on Dhaka. Construction of the planned
flyovers and elevated expressways will be completed in due time
with a view to easing the unbearable traffic in Dhaka. The plan to
build metro-rail, monorail, and circular rail will be implemented on
a priority basis. In addition, many more flyovers, tunnels and ele-
vated express ways will be built. The plans drawn up to ensure bal-
anced geographical profiles of divisional towns will be further
expanded and executed. Urban facilities in the older cities including
district towns will be increased.

With a view to creating urban facilities and ensuring planned urban-

ization, steps will be taken to raise public and private investments
in this sector, coupled with decentralization of city administration.

42
Media and Information Rights:

Unhindered freedom for the media and uninterrupted flow of information

will be maintained. Public Awareness will be raised to ensure effective
and fruitful functioning of the Information Commission, and to protect
the citizens’ right to know, as well as to keep all public functions trans-
parent and accountable as envisaged in the relevant law of land.

As a result of the phenomenal expansion of the information tech-

nology, the importance of social networking and online media has
increased manifold. Necessary guidelines will be formulated to pre-
vent the abuse of online newspapers and social networks, and to en-
sure that they act responsibly.

Newspapers will be declared as an industry, and given required in-

centives. More licenses will be given to launch community based
radio stations in far off corners of the country.

19.2 The Eighth Wages Board, formed to increase the salary and provi-
dence for the broadcast journalists will be implemented. Security
for the journalists while at work will be ensured.

Freedom of Culture and Religion

The policy followed by the Awami League -led Govt. to nurture and
nourish the secular and democratic traditions of Bengali culture will be
maintained. State patronization to achieve excellence in all sectors of art
and culture including Bengali literature, fine arts and crafts, music, Jatra,
theatre, cinema and publication of creative writings will be strengthened.
Institutional initiatives intended to preserve progressive culture; tradi-
tional folk arts, fairs and festivities will be duly encouraged.

The programme to build open air theatres in every upazilla will be

continued. Archaeological explorations, research and excavations
will be encouraged. More museums will be built to preserve and
display the heritages of our land.

20.2 Freedom of religion will be ensured for every citizen. No law con-
tradicting the Quran and the Sunnah will be passed. All creeds and
doctrines of different religions will be shown due respect. A modern
mosque will be built in every district and upazilla. Other religious
institutions will be renovated and developed.

20.3 Communalism and terrorism will be uprooted at any cost. To invig-

orate mutual respect among peoples from different religious values

43
 and to ensure their peaceful co-existence, protection by the law will
be strengthened side by side raising social awareness. Politics based
on religion will be prohibited and a liberal humanitarian society will
be developed.

Pride in our Liberation War and Welfare for the Freedom Fighters:

In all the aspects of our national and social life, the values and pride of our
liberation war will be held high. Programmes and projects initiated to pre-
vent the distortion of the history of our Liberation War and to preserve its
memories will be completed. Identification of all the places related to the
memory of our war and building mausoleums on those sites will be con-
tinued. Site-museums and libraries will be built on the sites which bear the
memories of our fight for freedom and its fighters.

The Awami League government’s policy to recognize and honour the free-
dom fighters – who are the greatest sons of the soil – providing allowances
to freedom fighters that are not well off, providing healthcare, old-age pro-
tection, and maintaining a quota system for their work in government jobs
and educational institutions will continue.

Minority, Small Ethnic Groups, Underdeveloped Communities and

Chittagong Hill Tracts

Through enacting the 15th Amendment to the Constitution in the Parlia-

ment, Awami League has re-established the four state principles of the ’72
Constitution. As a result of this granting of constitutional right and honour
to all religions, small national entities, ethnic groups and tribes, there will
be an end to discriminatory conduct towards religious and ethnic minorities
and violation of human rights. Constitutional obligation to safeguard their
life, property, places of worship, distinctions of their life-style and culture
will be strictly upheld. Landed property, homestead, forest property, water-
bodies and other properties will remain well-protected. The work of the
Hill Tracts Land Commission will continue to take special measures for
protection of small ethnic groups’ rights to land, water-bodies and forest-
property including rights of those of plain land. Special quota for the chil-
dren of non-advanced and non-developed ethnic groups, dalit and
tea-garden workers will be there in the matters of education, job and facil-
ities and advantages.

The still-unimplemented pledges and clauses of the CHT Peace Accord

shall be implemented. The development of the Hill districts will be sped
up, geo-natural features of the three Hill districts will be protected and for-
est areas, animal resources and the beauty of mountain peaks will be saved.

44
Defence

The policy adopted by Awami League to keep the Armed Forces above
all controversies will be upheld. The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman drew up a Defence Policy in 1974 to enhance
their capability to defend the security, sovereignty and integrity of the
country. The present Awami League Government has formulated the
Forces Goal-2030 in this light, and implementation of that will continue.
Works to procure necessary armament and vehicles, ensuring education
and training to build up the Army, Navy and Air Force as stronger and
more modern forces, have been going on and will continue.

Internal self-rule, discipline, administrative and management capacity

of the Armed Forces will be upheld. Promotion and upgrading of posts
have already taken place. Strict pursuance of policies of employment,
posting and promotion on the basis of seniority, merit skill and compe-
tence will be ensured.

Implementation of multi-faceted welfare programs including those

of education, medication, housing and retirement benefits of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces will continue.

23.3 Initiatives for maintenance and expansion of scopes of participating

in the UN Peace Keeping Forces will continue.

Sports and Sports Management

Topmost priority will be given to the enhancement of Bangladesh’s pro-

ficiency and standard in international competitions of cricket, football,
hockey, volleyball, golf, weight-lifting, swimming, gymnastics, etc. For
this, arrangements for upgrading management facilities, financial moti-
vation, physical training of the sportspeople and enhancing physical and
mental competence will continue. Transparency of sports organizations
and the National Sports Management Council will have to be increased.
Politicization, corruption and mismanagement will not be tolerated.

Children, adolescents and youths will have to be made adept in different

sports through putting-up of sports organizations, social and cultural or-
ganizations at all educational institutions of all levels and from remote
areas to district levels. Arrangements will be made to provide access to
sports fields and grounds, stadiums and sports implements, goods and
trainers.

45
Formation of NGO and Legalized Civil Society

No interference will be made at the NGO Bureau and from the part of other
Government authorities into the legal activities of registered organizations.
Each and every organization will be run as an autonomous organization
and according to its own rules, which will have to be congruent with preva-
lent laws and the Constitution of the country. Sources of income, trans-
parency of income and expenditure and accountability of each organization
will have to be ensured. NGOs and registered civil society organizations
receiving foreign aid must not get involved in the political process of the
country.

Foreign Policy

The foreign policy enriched by the spirit of the Liberation War, which the
Grand Alliance Government led by the Awami League has reinstated, will
be pursued further on the basis of Bangabandhu’s principle of ‘friendship
for all and malice to none.’ The intended goals of Bangladesh’s foreign
policy are non-interference by one country into another country’s internal
affairs, inter-state relationship on the basis of sovereign equality, expansion
of mutual co-operation and development partnership and securing of na-
tional prosperity and respectability through these.

Bangladesh’s friendly relationship with neighbours, including India, Myan-

mar, Nepal and Bhutan has been strengthened and mutual and multi-party
co-operation have been expanded. Co-operation with India including mu-
tual trade and security collaboration, apportioning of water of common
rivers, demarcation of land boundary and transfer of enclaves will be car-
ried forward. Initiatives for production of hydro-electricity and joint man-
agement with the help of common rivers on the basis of sub-regional
co-operation with India, Bhutan and Nepal will continue. Patient efforts
will continue to be there at bi-partite, regional and international levels in
matters relating to the illegal migrations of Rohingas from Myanmar, repa-
triation of Rohinga refugees and Rohingas illegally staying in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh borders will be transformed into borders of peace.

Bangladesh will continue to participate in all important meetings including

ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Asian Co-operation Dialogue (ACD) and
Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM). Initiatives will be taken for making meet-
ings like SAARC, BIMSTEC, D-8 more fruitful. Bangladesh’s interests
in the Indian Ocean will be safeguarded through more effective participa-
tion in Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). There will be active par-
ticipation in the initiatives of Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar
economic corridor.

46
Strong efforts will continue for establishing Bangladesh’s rights in the
continental shelf of the Bay of Bengal. All initiatives will continue for
maintenance and exploration of all bio-vital, mineral, marine and fisheries
resources in the areas where our rights have already been established and
also in the areas where our sovereign rights will be secured through our
legal interaction with India.

No concession will be given to forces of terror, international terrorism

and separatism. Mutual co-operation among South Asian countries for
contending forces of terror and separatism will be enhanced, and interna-
tional co-operation will continue in this regard.

Solidarity of the Muslim Ummah and areas of co-operation within the

structure of the Islamic Co-operation Council (OIC) will be further
strengthened and made fruitful. Along with maintenance and expansion
of the present labour market in Saudi Arabia, countries of the Middle-East
and Malaysia, initiatives for searching and expanding new labour markets
will continue. Efforts for diversifying trade-contacts in these regions also
will continue. Work will continue to intensify and diversify relationships
of co-operation with countries of the Far East including Indonesia, coun-
tries of the ASEAN and countries of the pacific region including Australia.
Nine new missions will be opened, and ten newly-opened missions will
be activated.

Friendly relationship with the developed and leading countries including

the USA, UK, European Union, Japan, Canada, Russia and China will be
strengthened further. Co-operation with these countries in all probable
areas including trade, investment, infrastructural development and man-
power development will be maintained.

Effective initiatives will be there for active protection of the rights of the
migrant workers and all expatriate Bangladeshis and securing their just
rights.

International co-operation will be carried forward for facing challenges

in areas of climate change, food security and fuel security.

Active participation of Bangladesh in the UNO will continue. We shall

go forward with our diplomatic initiative for democratization of the UNO,
international economic bodies and their decision-making processes. Spe-
cial diplomatic initiatives will be there to make Sheikh Hasina’s People’s
Empowerment Model adopted by the UNO more popular and acceptable.

47
 A Call to the Nation

Dear Countrymen,

We have kept our word. We have honoured the pledge we made to our
people in the Election of 2008. We performed with sincerity and trust
our duty to implement the programmes in order to overcome the prob-
lems and crisis that had been created earlier. In many cases we exceeded
the targets of achievements. We know and recognize that our successes
during the last five years were possible due to the unstinted support of
people from all walks of life and their toil and sweat. It was possible also
due to the involvement of our meritorious young people and their in-
spired participation in nation building. You have also proved beyond
doubt that nothing great or glorious can be achieved without selfless sac-
rifices. Our dear countrymen, we congratulate you on your achievements.
We take this opportunity to convey our best wishes to our brave and hard-
working youth who are full of vibrant life. Today we are able to spell out
loudly the fact that coming out of the darkness of the past Bangladesh
has now stepped towards a bright, resplendent and sparkling future. We
are all co- travellers in the path of life.

We have pledged to create a hunger and poverty-free, developed

Bangladesh by 2021 and keeping this end in view we have created a con-
structive condition to follow that path of progress from which we will
not be deterred. In order to implement the Vision- 2021 we have put be-
fore you the specific orderly programmes of the second term — the Na-
tional Charter- 2014. We trust that in order to keep the pace of
development and progress unabated and in order to push the country for-
ward to the path of peace, democracy, development and prosperity you
will give Bangladesh Awami League another opportunity to serve you.
If the people take the right decision, then within five years Bangladesh
shall be able to produce food in excess of its own needs and food security
will be a certainty, the problem of malnutrition will disappear and poverty
will vanish. Illiteracy will fade away, educated and trained human re-
source will abound, the base of an advanced culture and civilization will
be created, electricity will reach every household, unemployment will
be reduced to zero with crore of young people getting employed, health
care for all will be ensured, trade and commerce will expand signifi-

48
cantly, communication system will completely transform itself, planned
cities and townships will grow, the capital city of Dhaka will be free of
traffic jam and shall turn into a uniquely beautiful mega city and digital
Bangladesh will step into prosperity and progress. Politics will be free
from enmity, violence and confrontations. Bangladesh will come out of
the morass of corruption and criminalization; a tolerant democratic sys-
tem will then be a reality.

Within the next five years we shall present to the nation our vision—a
new Perspective Plan to be styled “Rupakalpa-2041”. The Bangladesh
of 2041 will be a peaceful, prosperous, happy and developed society,
transcending the middle income stage. Good governance, people’s capa-
bility and empowerment shall be the guiding principle of this robust
progress. Within the span of this time frame the three-tier local govern-
ment system will be firmly entrenched and developed. Planning modality
and financing strategy will be determined through mutual discussion and
synthesis between the central and local governments; and basically the
local government shall be the authority responsible for its implementa-
tion. With this end in view, the authority of the state shall play a comple-
mentary role and the local government shall be the main executive force
for its implementation. Empowerment of women, exclusive arrangement
and programmes for the marginal people, expansion of educational fa-
cilities and communal harmony shall be the main driving creed. To go
forward the lion’s share of government budgetary allocations shall be
ear-marked for the local phase and the local administration shall be re-
sponsible for administering the programme. A decentralized administra-
tive system will become the hallmark of Bangladesh. This system will
evolve by ensuring democratic conduct, tolerance, discussion and under-
standing and finally an unwavering dedication to public welfare. The fu-
ture of our Motherland shall be determined by the new generation, the
young people of Bangladesh- a generation vibrant and fully alive to the
need for creating a prosperous Bangladesh. We are placing this Manifesto
‘Bangladesh Marching Ahead’ in the name of peace, democracy, devel-
opment and prosperity in their hands.

Dear Countrymen,

As in the past we sincerely seek your unique support and trust. We seek
your vote to have the opportunity to serve you once again. Please vote
for the symbol of Boat which is the symbol of the Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu, the symbol of Haque-Bhasani- Suhrawardy, as well as the
symbol of independence and freedom. Please come together by forgetting

49
all differences and let us all go forward in the path of peace, development,
democracy and prosperity. We want an end to all violence, killings and
spillage of blood once and for all. Let us all together build up the Father
of the Nation’s Sonar Bangla, the golden Bangla of his dream. In this
struggle to build up our beloved country, victory of the people is
inevitable.

We put our trust in Almighty Allah.

Joy Bangla. Joy Bangabandhu. Long live Bangladesh.

50