While Awami League (AL), Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and their allies have revealed their manifesto ahead of the 11th National Parliamentary Election, there is very little interest among the religious parties with the exception of Islami Andolan Bangladesh. Voters are also eager to see the manifesto since this expresses the pledges of a party if it’s elected to form government.
On Friday (Dec 14), HM Ershad will declare Jatiya Party’s manifesto. Meanwhile, Jatiya Oikya Front will unveil its manifesto on Dec 17 and AL on Dec 18.
The first manifesto was released by Bangladesh Communist Party (CPB).
However, there’s no interest among religious parties over manifesto but Islami Andolan has formed a three members committee led by pir of Charmonai.
Khelafat Majlish’s Secretary General Moulana Mahfuzul Huq told Bangla Tribune, “We haven’t finalized anything as yet and are thinking about what to do.”
Chairman of Islami Oikya Jote, Moulana Abdul Latif Nezami, said, “As an Islamist party, we want to establish Islam in the country and a manifesto can be formulated based on our ideology.”
Publicity Secretary of Ulemaye Islam, Moulana Zainul Abedin, told Bangla Tribune, “We don’t have any separate one and will go with the manifesto of the 20-party Alliance.”
Joint Secretary General of Khelafat Majlish, Sheikh Golam Asgar, told Bangla Tribune, “Two of our party members are competing as candidates of the alliance under the symbol of sheaf of paddy; however, ten of our own candidates are taking part with the party symbol of wall clock.”
Therefore, we are making a manifesto, he added.
In the manifesto, employment is being given importance, Asgar informed.
Zaker Party Chairman, Mostafa Amir Faisal’s press secretary, Shamim Haider, says, “No final decision has been taken over manifesto as yet.”
In the upcoming election, most candidates are from Islami Andolan Bangladesh who will compete in 298 seats and a manifesto may be declared on Dec 18 next.
Islami Andolan’s manifesto committee head, Ashraf Ali Akan, told Bangla Tribune, “We do not indulge in politics of false promises made to the masses. Corruption is the main impediment to progress in Bangladesh and fighting graft is our main target.”
Along with tackling corruption, employment, agriculture and education development will feature in our manifesto, he said.