DHAKA — Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has prepared its election manifesto for the upcoming parliamentary election, with clear commitments on 25 issues of public importance, party leaders said.
Titled “Manifesto of the People,” the document prioritizes education, social justice and anti-corruption plans alongside the aspirations of young people and women. Designed in an entirely new format, the manifesto will be released both in print and digitally, with advanced graphic design work underway to present it to voters in a striking manner. It will be released after Jan. 20, either on a date set by the Election Commission or by party decision, sources said.
According to party sources, the manifesto has been prepared by a party committee under the guidance of Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and the supervision of Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, based on advice from domestic and foreign experts. Public opinion was also gathered through the “Manifesto of the People” app and website, which drew about 4,500 responses including audio and video submissions. Important points from those responses are being incorporated into the manifesto, while other opinions will be preserved in an archive open to the public.
Jamaat’s assistant secretary general and head of the central publicity and media department, Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, said the party last released a manifesto in the 2008 election. A long time has passed since then, so this manifesto will be entirely new in format, he said. It will prioritize the demands of young people and women.
He said the manifesto is being prepared in three layers. The first will consist of bullet points for easy public understanding. The second will be a 40 to 50-page book. Detailed information will be available in a digital archive, accessible to anyone. Specific timelines will be given for implementing each commitment, including programs for the first 100 days, six months, one year and so on.
Zubair said the party is preparing for the announcement. “A proposal has been submitted to the government for all parties to announce their manifestos on the same day. We will act based on their decision. Otherwise, we will release it on our own,” he said.
Sources said professors from domestic and foreign universities, engineers, journalists, doctors, economists and other experts beyond party circles were consulted in preparing the manifesto. It follows a different pattern from any previous manifesto and pledges to build Bangladesh with people of all viewpoints, sources said.
While the manifesto will be released centrally, candidates in each constituency will separately present regional and grassroots plans, party sources said. Candidates have finalized their plans based on opinions from people in their areas.
Yasin Arafat, the party’s candidate for Cumilla-10, said he has adopted development plans based on the problems in his constituency. “For example, my area has no fire service. Ten health complexes will be established at the upazila level. Full transparency will be ensured for all allocations made for road development,” he said, adding that similar steps will be taken to improve education and health.
Arafat said the biggest issue is that more people from his area go abroad for work than from anywhere else. “So we will arrange proper training for those interested in overseas employment. I will also declare zero tolerance against drugs and corruption, and ensure a social justice system,” he said.
Jamaat’s assistant secretary general Maulana Abdul Halim said the manifesto will emphasize fundamental issues, including ethical and skill-based education, social justice, the rights of women to dignity and respect, and the aspirations of young people in the wake of the July uprising. Above all, he said, the manifesto will pledge to build the country unitedly with everyone, free from divisive politics.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report