BNP declares 51-point manifesto to build ‘welfare-oriented, prosperous Bangladesh’

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has announced the party’s 51-point election manifesto, prioritising nine issues with the promise of “building a welfare-oriented and prosperous Bangladesh”.

The party chairman presented the manifesto at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Friday afternoon.

The 51-point BNP manifesto has detailed the party’s plans on how it will run the country if it comes to power. It notes that it plans to keep a significant number of women in the cabinet and provide annual allocations to political parties from the government.

“The BNP believes in justice and humanity, not revenge. The core of our politics is not power, but the rights of the people. Not looting, but production, not goodness, not rights, not discrimination, but fairness… The state will be run on this principle,” Tarique said.

 “If the BNP is given this responsibility by the people’s mandate, it will build a Bangladesh where there will be the dignity of voting, there will be an end to terrorism, corruption and discrimination, no one will be above the law and every citizen will be able to proudly say… Bangladesh first.”

The manifesto highlights nine priorities:

1. A “Family Card” to protect marginal and low-income families and a “Farmer Card” to ensure fair prices for farmers' produce
2. The recruitment of 100,000 health workers
3. The formulation of educational policies based on practical skills and values to establish a joyful and work-oriented education system
4. The creation of employment for youth
5. The expansion of sports infrastructure and daily life systems in districts and Upazilas to develop sports as a means of profession and livelihood
6. The excavation and re-excavation of 20,000km of rivers and canals with public participation to strengthen environmental protection and climate tolerance
7. The planting of 250 million trees over five years and the introduction of a modern waste management system
8. The introduction of a respectful and training-based welfare system for religious leaders in religious sites of all religions
9. The introduction of an international payment system to increase digital economy and market connectivity

The manifesto states that these are not just election promises, but a declaration of a new contract between state and society.

Before the manifesto announcement, a video presentation was given highlighting the party’s commitment to running Bangladesh in the future. It highlighted the party’s goals, objectives and commitments, including the various steps it will take if it wins the election.

The manifesto announcement ceremony is being presided over by the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and moderated by the party's Central Election Steering Committee Chairman and Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan.

The ceremony is being attended by editors Shafik Rehman, Matiur Rahman, Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, as well as editors and senior journalists of various media outlets, citizens from different classes and professions, and diplomats from different countries.

Tarique, the son of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman and former party chief and prime minister Khaleda Zia, is leading the party in this election. It is the first time he is announcing the party’s manifesto.

Khaleda had led the party in the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth parliamentary elections. She had announced each of the party’s manifestoes.

The BNP-led alliance Jatiya Oikya Front had contested the 11th parliamentary election in 2018, but Khaleda was in jail at the time. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the manifesto at the Lakeshore Hotel in Dhaka’s Gulshan on Dec 18 that year.

The BNP boycotted the 10th and 12th parliamentary elections held under a Sheikh Hasina-led government.