Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today announced her party's polls manifesto for the 2024 national election, vowing to build a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041.

"Bangladesh will be established as a high-middle-income country by 2031 and a developed, prosperous, smart one by 2041 by the Bangladesh Awami League, the bearer of the spirit of the Liberation War, if the people once again allow us to serve them by voting for the boat, the AL's electoral symbol," she said.

The premier said if the people of the country vote for the AL, her party will give them development, peace, and prosperity.

The AL chief made the remarks after unveiling her party's election manifesto at a city hotel this morning, just 10 days before the 12th parliamentary election slated for January 7.

The slogan of the AL's election manifesto is "Smart Bangladesh where Development Shines, Accelerating Employment".

The manifesto has given priorities to 11 issues.

In the manifesto, the AL vowed to show zero tolerance against corruption and terrorism, alleviate poverty, create employment, and ensure service-oriented and accountable administration.

The AL manifesto also put greater focus on infrastructure development, freedom of press and the practice of transparency, accountability, good governance as well as strengthened democratic values in all aspects of state management.

It, as well, promised to be tougher against money launderers, to eradicate bribery and corruption at all levels of the state and society, to establish a universal health system, and introduce health insurance.

"We are responsible for all the mistakes during the last 15 years ... Success is yours. Look at our mistakes with a forgiving eye. We promise to learn from past mistakes and conduct future activities according to your expectations," she said.

Right now, Bangladesh is standing in a transitional period and the country is going to join the ranks of developing countries from the list of least developed countries, she said, adding that this transition is an honour on the one hand and a huge challenge on the other.

"The government to be formed by the January 7 election must have the capacity to face this challenge. Only the Awami League can face this challenge and take the country to new heights," she said.

Looking forward to the 12th election, Sheikh Hasina said they have once again appeared before the countrymen with the election manifesto of Bangladesh Awami League.

"As a continuation of the past, this time, we have prepared an implementable election manifesto by setting specific targets. The continuity of the long-term action plans announced in the 2008, 2014, and 2018 election manifestos has also been maintained in the 12th election manifesto," she said.

The AL chief said they will not claim that they have always been a hundred percent successful in running the government despite sincerity and devotion.

She continued: "Awami League does not believe in the politics of words. We do what we say. The implementation of election manifestos of 2008, 2014, and 2018 is proof of that."

But at times, she said man-made, natural, and global obstacles slowed down Bangladesh's progress, adding that during 2013-16, they had to move forward by confronting the attempts of BNP-Jamaat to spread terrorism and militancy.

Since 2009, they had to deal with several natural disasters while the biggest blow came in 2020 when the global coronavirus pandemic broke out, Sheikh Hasina said, adding that the pandemic devastated economies and health systems around the entire world.

"Our government has successfully handled this terrible pandemic of the 21st century and kept the wheels of the economy running," she said.

However, as soon as the pressure of the coronavirus pandemic stopped, first, the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, and this year the Israel-Palestine war started, she added.

The sanction and counter-sanction against each other have thrown the world economy into turmoil and the least developed and developing countries like Bangladesh are being forced to import products at higher prices, she continued.
The depreciation of the domestic currency has led to an increase in inflation, which has an impact on commodity prices and people's lives, the premier said.

"Several times, despite multifaceted and all-out efforts, we have not been able to curb the rise in prices of daily necessities. This problem is not only for our country, but this problem is also for all rich and poor countries," she said.
However, "We are trying to reduce the plight of the lower and lower-middle class people through various initiatives, including expanding social safety net coverage. We hope that we can overcome this obstacle very soon, In Sha Allah," she added.

Whenever the election comes, the AL chief said an anti-liberation, anti-Bangladesh, and anti-development clique becomes active with a leap of conspiracy.

"They enter the field by using tricks or vote rigging or through the back door to come to power. If they become unsuccessful, they jump on the people to take revenge," she said.

She went on saying that the anti-liberation force wants to intimidate the public through arson attack, burning of vehicle, bombing, sabotage, or terrorist activities.

"This time, there was no exception. This time, they are also making conspiracies from abroad. Realising that they will not get the people's mandate, they have already indulged in terrorist activities," she said.

In the name of the hartal-blockade, the premier said that vehicles are being burnt, people are being killed, railway lines are being rooted up, and various vandalisms are being carried out continuously.

"The charred bodies of the mother and child have deeply shaken everyone's conscience. Such heinous acts can no longer be tolerated. Without getting the response to the people, mercenary forces are continuing this vandalism and damaging the vehicles," she said.

The people of this country will never let them fulfill their dream of disrupting the election through terrorism, she continued.

"As you resisted them in 2013-2016, let us collectively defend them this time. This anti-independence, anti-development vulture party will never be able to wound Bangladesh with their poisonous teeth and claws - let's take this oath in the month of victory," the AL chief said.

She reminded that this country's outstanding achievements- starting from establishing the rights to speak the mother tongue and achieving the motherland's independence, have come through the hands of the Awami League.

The AL president said Bangladesh has been transformed in the last 15 years as today's Bangladesh is by no means poverty-stricken or economically fragile.

"I can unequivocally say that today's Bangladesh is now a 'Changed Bangladesh.' Bangladesh is now a fast-paced country moving forward with its potential. Minor setbacks cannot hinder our economic progress today," she said.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader also spoke at the function.

Convener of the Election Manifesto Committee Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque gave the address of welcome.

Cabinet members, politicians, foreign diplomats, educationists, journalists and eminent personalities of the country were present.

Two video documentaries highlighting the journey of Bangladesh towards prosperity under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were screened at the function.

The Awami League envisions a "Smart Bangladesh" by 2041, seeking to build a country that would be cost-effective, sustainable, innovative and knowledge-based.

It believes "Digital Bangladesh", one of its promises before the 2014 national election, is now a reality. 

And to take the country to newer heights, the ruling party said, it would make society, citizens, economy and the government smart, transforming activities in education, agriculture and financial sectors into a smart system.

To realise this goal, the AL wants to implement 40 mega projects by 2041 with a specific timeframe of completing the projects in three phases -- 2025, 2031 and 2041.

These goals were set in the party's declaration, which was adopted at its 22nd triennial council held on December 24. The Daily Star has recently obtained a copy of the declaration.

Political parties usually prepare election manifestoes based on such declarations. The AL will do so and it will implement these pledges if voted to power in the 12th national election slated for January 2024.

Talking to the Daily Star, AL Presidium Member Abdur Razzaque said the party's next manifesto would focus mainly on the major goals set in the newly adopted declaration.

"But we will incorporate some updates [in the manifesto] considering the situation and realities of the time," he added.

In its declaration, the AL placed emphasis on the country's recovery from the economic slowdown brought on by the Covid pandemic, and set a target to ensure 20 percent contribution to the national economy from the ICT sector by 2041.

In its 2008 manifesto titled "Dinbodoler Sanad" or "A Charter for Change," the AL unveiled "Vision 2021". Its manifesto in 2014 titled "Bangladesh Marching Forward" pledged to make Bangladesh digital by 2021.

The AL in its 2018 manifesto, titled "Bangladesh on March towards Prosperity", pledged to make Bangladesh developed and prosperous and bring the poverty rate down to zero by 2041.

In its new declaration, it set a target to make Bangladesh smart as it claimed that the party-led government has already implemented its pledge of a "Digital Bangladesh".

The party termed its goal as the "golden masterplan to make Bangladesh smart".

The party wants to build a skilled and transparent government management system to make it modern.

In the 2018 manifesto, AL pledged to produce 28,000 MW electricity by 2023, and in the declaration adopted on December 24, 2022, it set a new goal to produce 40,000MW electricity by 2030 and 60,000MW electricity by 2041.

The declaration also targeted producing 40 percent of the total domestic demand for electricity from renewable sources.

In its "declaration and programme" chapter, the ruling party said the main goal would be to make Bangladesh a higher-middle income country by 2031 and a developed country by 2041.

It also promised that ensuring equal rights, secular politics and social justice would be its ultimate target. The party also vowed to ensure a tolerant and multi-party democratic system that will be against any sort of extremism, terrorism or militancy.

In the immediate-past declaration adopted at the party's council in 2019, AL outlined its programmes with "Vision 2021" in mind, but this time the declaration was made keeping "Vision-2041" in mind.

In the chapter titled "elimination of poverty", the party pledged to bring poverty below 15.6 percent by 2025 and to fully eliminate begging.

The ruling party vowed to invest more in the energy sector and pledged to construct more nuclear power plants, ensure natural gas transmission to the country's north and west, and place greater importance on renewable energy.

It also vowed to increase the capacity of the country's only state-owned fuel refinery, Eastern Refinery Limited, from refining 15 lakh tonnes to 45 lakh tonnes.

The ruling party pledged high-speed train networks between the capital and  Sylhet, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Patuakhali and Khulna. It will also consider expanding the service to Kolkata and constructing a new airport.

In the declaration's "effective action against corruption" chapter, it promised to "continue its efforts to make society corruption-free, and ensure punishment of the corrupt through trial, including forfeiture of illegally amassed money and property".

It also pledged to take proper initiatives to ensure the rule of law and that the appointment, promotion,  and posting of law enforcers be made above political considerations. It would also strive to ensure independence of the judiciary and the human rights commission.

The declaration said the AL was committed to giving fair elections and democratic system an institutional shape, and that it would "continue its efforts to bring reforms to the Election Commission and election system for the sake of free and credible polls". It will also ensure transparency and accountability of the government.

Awami League (AL) President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today pledged to make arrangements so that journalists do not face torture, intimidation, or false cases if her party is elected in the next general polls to be held on January 7.

"As per the newly enacted law, 'The Cyber Security Act of 2023', the privacy and information of individuals will be protected, and appropriate measures will continue to be taken to prevent misuse," she said while declaring the AL's election manifesto at a city hotel.

She said financial and medical assistance to journalists will be further extended under the Journalist Welfare Trust while the process of forming the 10th Wage Board for journalists is underway.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has ensured the free flow of information and freedom of media.

"In the 1996-2001 tenure, we were the first to open television & radio to the private sector," she said.

Mass media has developed tremendously in the last 15 years so that the number of newspapers in the country is now 3,241 while 33 private TV channels, 23 FM radios, and 18 community radio stations are currently broadcasting, she added.