Fulfil poll pledges

Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) yesterday urged the Awami League-led grand alliance government to fulfill its election pledges, including combating corruption, cutting poverty and ensuring human rights.
Leaders of the BEA made the call while according a reception to its members who were elected members of the parliament to the 9th parliament.
The newly elected lawmakers who are members of the BEA are Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Mostafa Faruq Mohammad, Rashed Khan Menon, Prof M Ali Ashraf and Fazle Hossain Badsha, all belonging to the ruling AL-led grand alliance.
Five of them, except Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, attended the reception at the BEA auditorium in the city yesterday afternoon.
BEA President Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad presided over the function while BEA General Secretary Prof Abul Barakat delivered the address of welcome. The newly elected lawmaker and BEA senior vice-president Dr Ashrafuddin Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion.
Greeting the newly elected lawmakers Dr Kholiquzzaman said the people have voted for them in the last polls as they pledged changes.
"The election manifesto of the Awami League is a charter for changes. Changing the days means changing the present situation and the present systems," he said and added the government must fulfill its pledges for poverty reduction, removing disparity, ensuring human rights and improving education, health, agriculture, power and all other sectors.
Prof Abul Barakat urged the ruling party to implement its election pledges to build a non-communal, liberal, democratic and economically strong Bangladesh to attain 'Vision 2021' mentioned in their manifesto.
He reminded them that the people are in great hope that the new government will reduce prices of essentials, eliminate corruption, resolve power and energy crisis, alleviate poverty, ensure good governance, try war criminals and establish a digital Bangladesh.
The lawmakers thanked the BEA for according the reception to them and urged the organisation to make constructive criticisms and suggest measures on important national issues.