Oikyafront wants PM’s 2-term limit

Jatiya Oikyafront will finalise its poll manifesto within a couple of days, with a set of pledges including formation of minority ministry, creation of bicameral legislature, and limiting a prime minister’s tenure to a maximum of two terms, according to Oikyafront sources

The draft poll pledges of Oikyafront also include restoring election-time non-partisan government system, formation of tribunal to try corrupt people, amending Article 70 of the Constitution which doesn’t floor-crossing for lawmakers, reducing internet access costs for cell phone users by half, cancellation of the Digital Security Act, introducing city governments, providing unemployment allowances to youth above 30, and removing age limit for government job seekers, said the sources.

Oikyafront is planning to publish its combined manifesto in a press conference on December 17, after combining the draft manifestos of its allies and partners in the 20-Party Alliance where BNP is a major partner.

Oikyafront wants to publish its poll manifesto at Hotel Purbani at 11:00am on December 17, and it has already sought police permission to this end, said Dr Mehedi Masud, head of media cell of Jatiya Oikyaforum.

He, however, added that Oikyafront may defer the date as it wants to publish its own manifesto after studying the one published by ruling Awami League-led Grand Alliance. The

Grand Alliance manifesto is expected to be published on December 18.

A sub-committee has already prepared the draft manifesto of Oikyafront and it will be handed over to the steering committee after a feasibility study of the pledges, said sub-committee member AOM Shafiqullah. He said the sub-committee will likely submit the draft manifesto to the steering committee in a day or two.

Shafiqullah said they have prepared the draft focusing on the 11-point vision of the Oikyafront regarding what they would do in the next five years, if voted to power.

BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said they would finalise the poll manifesto in line with the Vision 2030 announced earlier by party’s jailed chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Replying to a question, he said they would soon make public the election manifesto.

Another standing committee member, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, said they would finalise the poll manifesto giving highest emphasis on the need to restore democracy, fundamental rights, and ensure rule of law in the country.

Sources said the draft manifesto also includes pledges to take steps for ensuring good governance, stopping extrajudicial killings, bringing administrative reforms, decentralisation, cancellation of PEC and JSE examinations, woman empowerment, removing gender and income discrimination, building an environment-friendly country, promoting creative industrialisation, and returning money illegally stashed aboard.

Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, chief of the sub-committee, said they are preparing the poll manifesto in line with the proposals brought by the representatives of the respective political parties that constitute Oikyafront.

He said in the manifesto they have proposed to introduce balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister. "We are preparing the manifesto in a bid to build a welfare-oriented and corruption-free Bangladesh," he added.

Jatiya Oikyafront, comprising five political parties, was formed on October 13 with seven-point demands and it decided to take part in the elections as part of its movement in what was described as an adverse situation where none of their demands were met.

Jatiya Oikyafront and the 20-Party Alliance fielded common candidates in all the 300 constituencies to contest the 11th parliamentary poll with the symbol sheaf of paddy.