None discloses manifesto yet

The ruling Awami League and 11 other parties contesting the January 5 parliamentary polls have yet to come up with electoral pledges apparently due to lack of interest in wooing voters in the one-sided election.
The AL may need some more days to unveil its electoral manifesto, which was drafted reiterating its promises to establish good governance and corruption-free administration, insiders say.  
It had unveiled the electoral pledges 'A Charter for Change' on December 12, 17 days before the December 29, 2008 parliamentary election contested by all major political parties. 
The election's drafted manifesto was submitted to AL chief Sheikh Hasina on Saturday for her consent, the insiders said, adding that a slogan for the manifesto was yet to be finalised. 
The AL Central Working Committee, the highest decision-making body of the party, would endorse the manifesto and then it would be made public, they said.
AL presidium member Nooh-ul-Alam Lenin and advisory council member Mashiur Rahman and some experts have drafted the manifesto. 
Talking to The Daily Star, Nooh-ul-Alam Lenin said the manifesto focuses on fulfilling the unfulfilled promises. "Our main target to move the country forward and our vision of 2021 still exist," he added.
AL allies Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haque Inu and Jatiya Party (JP-Manju) Chairman Anwar Hossain Manju are set to be elected unopposed. Their parties have also not made their manifestoes public.
In the electoral manifesto for the January 5 polls, the AL would also come up with its pledges to construct the much-talked-about Padma bridge and the second international airport, which the party had promised before the last polls but failed to deliver.
The party would make public its election manifesto within this month although 127 of party aspirants are set to be elected uncontested. 
As many as 154 aspirants are set to be elected unopposed before the election as the BNP-led 18-party alliance has boycotted the polls.
Sources said the party at its new manifesto would give priority to energy, industrialisation, agriculture, education and health. It would also put emphasise on women empowerment and vow to conclude the trial of war criminals.
The party would also promise to turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country within 2021. The manifesto would also highlight its development activities during its five-year tenure and the opposition parties' “destructive” activities and their non-cooperation to the government to fulfil its goals.
The AL would also vow to increase per capita income to $1,500, the sources added.
On party manifesto, Workers Party chief Menon told The Daily Star that his party was preparing its manifesto, which might be revealed by December 29. 
JP Secretary General Sheikh Shahidul Islam and JSD General Secretary Sharif Nurul Ambia both said their parties were preparing manifestoes and would unveil those in this month.