The Workers Party of Bangladesh (WPB) yesterday unveiled its 21-point election manifesto with commitments of building a prosperous Bangladesh-- free from corruption, terrorism and militancy.

The manifesto highlights seven main points: controlling of commodity prices, eradication of poverty, establishment of rights of labourers and middle class people, ensuring the right of women, protecting the country from the World Bank and IMF, conservation of environment and ensuring social security of the citizen.

Party's politburo member Anisur Rahman Mallik read out the election charter at Asad auditorium in its central office.

Party President Rashed Khan Menon said they have prepared their election manifesto on the basis of general people's opinion-- to make Bangladesh free from poverty, discrimination and communality.

He also said, amidst the threat from extreme fundamentalist and communal forces, Jamaat-e-Islami has emphasized enactment of 'blasphemy law' in their election manifesto.

Asked about his alliance with the Jatiya Party-- which has also pledged to enact Blasphemy laws, Menon said his party is allied with 14 parties and Jatiya Party is not any part of the alliance.

Replying to another question, he said his party has accepted 'boat' as election symbol instead of its own party symbol, considering the practical situation.

Juktafront had contested the national polls in 1954 using 'boat' as election symbol, Menon added.

The other commitments of the manifesto are: ensuring food safety, employment generation, rooting out extreme fundamentalist and communal forces, development of agricultural sectors and cultivators, protecting the interest of industries and workers, protesting the aggression of imperialism, eradication of corruption and crime, protection of national resources-oil, gas and sea-ports, maintaining peace and harmony with international allies, development of education and culture, decentralisation of powers and autonomy of the local governments, protecting rights of the indigenous people, handicapped people, religious minority people, making policies for health care facilities and medical services, law and order, planned urbanisation and national democratic development.