An Awami League sub-committee on its election manifesto, headed by its Presidium member Abdur Razzaque, will finalise its draft manifesto by Thursday, encompassing issues relating to economic growth and human resource development as its plans to return to power for the third consecutive time.
"The draft is ready, we’ll finalise it on Thursday," Awami League Deputy Office Secretary Biplob Barua said on the phone on Sunday.
Once finalised, he said, the draft election manifesto will be given to the party’s chief Sheikh Hasina any day after Thursday.
Responding to a query, the AL deputy office secretary said the election manifesto will be announced by the party chief.
Other members of the committee include Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman, PM’s Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam, Premier University Vice Chancellor (VC) and Awami League Adviser Dr Anupam Sen, former Dhaka University VC AAMS Arefin Siddique and Awami League Organising Secretary Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel.
According to sources at the sub-committee, the Awami League will unveil a pro-youth election manifesto ahead of the 11th national election which is scheduled to be held on December 30.
The ruling party believes that young voters will be the determining factor in the coming election which the AL chief termed very crucial for the country and its development.
In the draft manifesto, the AL sub-committee is highlighting the major development projects the government has implemented since 2009.
"There’ll be a guideline on the projects that remained unimplemented during its last two tenures," a member of the sub-committee said.
According to him, the manifesto will also focus on the shortcomings in various sectors to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country by 2041. "We’ve identified the sectors that should have been prioritised to make the country a developed one by 2041," he said.
Replying to a question, the committee member said the election manifesto will give priority to balanced development of the country, quality education and appropriate employment opportunities for the youth.
He said the money coming from the revenue sector should not be utilised in only urban areas as rural areas should get the equal importance when it comes to development.
He said that the AL chief always put emphasis on making the rural areas as developed as the urban ones through providing civic amenities, including planned housing, gas, power, water supply, sanitation system and waste management.
About education, the committee member mentioned that there has been marked expansion of education in the country and now the ruling party wants to put emphasis on maintaining the quality of it as the students coming from various educational institutions can compete in the world arena efficiently and comfortably.
He also mentioned that the government will focus on creating employment opportunities for the youths and vocational training for them in addition to encouraging female entrepreneurship.
According to UNB news agency, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will get special attention in the manifesto and a number of issues of SDGs will get preference as well as the blue economy.
The development of the information technology and mineral sectors will be prioritised, said the sources.