Democracy

1.   BNP is of the opinion that the people of Bangladesh has been dispossessed of the ownership of the state that they had created through the great liberation war. BNP wants to hand over the lost ownership of the country back to her people.

2.   BNP is committed to building a liberal democratic society wherein freedom of expression and rights of citizens upholding national interest shall be protected. BNP unwaveringly pledges to respect opinion or belief of any group or individual, however small it be.

3.   We do not believe in ‘one day democracy’. BNP does not like people’s power to confine to election-day alone. BNP wants to be true to the hopes and aspirations of the people reflected through every day public opinion.

4.   BNP aims at managing the affairs of the state with due deference to the opinions of the civil society, mass-media, opinion surveys, expert opinion, essence of all sorts of knowledge gathered through experience and day to day hopes and aspirations of the people. BNP, armed with mass support, will resist the sinister move of exiling democracy by the authoritarian ruler taking recourse to the fallacious plea that development is pre-eminent over democracy.

5.   Existing constitutional order vests all executive powers of the republic unilaterally in the hands of the Prime Minister. This system is completely inconsistent with the recognized form of parliamentary system. Experience of the recent time made the people of the country deeply realize that the monolithic executive authority of the Prime Minister has created an authoritarian dictatorship with a parliamentary façade. In order to bring an end to this situation, the executive powers of the republic shall be balanced through appropriate constitutional amendment.

6.   As a part of the reforms of the current constitutional arrangement, it will be examined if Upper House of the JatiyaSangsadmay be established keeping the existing unitary character and structure of the constitution intact.

7.   After coming to power in 2009, Awami League brought 15th and 16th amendments to the constitution through which the system of referendum and caretaker government system during election was abrogated. Some undemocratic articles/sections were incorporated into the constitution like the system of holding JatiyaSangsad Election keeping the erstwhile parliament alive, somemore undemocratic articles/sections were incorporated into the constitution barring bringing changes, addition, substitution, abrogation, or the introduction of articles/sections in certain parts of the constitution. Additionally, the power of impeachment of the judges of higher judiciary was vested upon the JaityaSangsad. BNP shall make a review of these controversial and undemocratic articles/sections and bring in necessary reforms to the constitution.

8.   BNP shall restore the provision of Referendum in the constitution to reinstate the democratic right of the people.

9.   JatiyaSangsad will be transformed into the center-point of all national issues. The opposition parties will be shared on all issues of national interest. The chairmanship of public accounts committee and public undertakings committee shall be offered to the members of the opposition. In order to strengthen the parliamentary activities, different caucus shall be encouraged to be formed integrating the back-benchers from the opposition and treasury bench.  

10.   Rain-bow displays in brilliant sequence a glow of seven bright colors in the autumn sky. BNP wants to nurture a political culture involving all political shades of opinion and paths that will transform Bangladesh into a ‘Rain-bow Nation’.

11.   BNP is firmly determined to reach the destination of democracy, justice and fair-play, which had been the tenets of the liberation war consecrated by the people. Hence, BNP wants to combine together 3 Gs – ‘Good policy’, ‘Good governance’ and ‘Good administration’.

Good Governance

17.   To ensure democracy, good governance and economic transparency, BNP shall cleanse all constitutional and statutory bodies of the filth of vested interest and party-philia through adopting all legal and procedural measures to enhance efficiency and restore confidence in these bodies.

18.   National institutions have been turned ineffectual for serving narrow party interest. BNP will ensure effectiveness of the state administrative machinery, police and other relevant national institutions through giving due recognition to honesty, efficiency, merit, capability, patriotism and judiciousness alone, without considering loyalty to party that be.

19.   BNP will give credence to training, experience, honesty, excellence in merit and creativity only, for considering eligibility in civil and military administration. BNP will make it a must to put an end to partisan and extralegal interference and see to it that judiciary, public administration, and police enjoy the freedom to lawfully discharge their duties.

20.   BNP shall not make any compromise with corruption. In order to arrest spread of corruption in the society like a filthy wound, rule of law, accountability and transparency shall be thoroughly implemented along with procedural and legal reforms. 

21.   The office and position of the Ombudsman shall be createdas per the constitution in order to ensure administrative accountability and transparency.

22.   Bangladesh is now an unsecured and risky land. Even a child in the mother’s womb is not free from the claw of cruel crimes. People seeking justice from the court is being denied justice. Courts are used to suppress the members of the opposition parties. A culture of impunity has engulfed the country. In order to redress the situation, fairness and justice should be ensured. To achieve this goal Public Administration, Judiciary, Police, and Prison have to be reformed. These institutions should be made transparent, efficient, modern, and updated.

23.   BNP is totally faithful to human values and dignity. BNP is oath-bound to rule of law. Suffice it to say that no rule of black law shall be acceptable to BNP in the name of rule of law. BNP shall annul all sorts of black laws. BNP shall bring an end to all forms of inhuman physical and mental torture and extra-judicial killings to keep people free from all forms of cruel treatment.

24.   ‘Special Powers Act 1974’ shall be repealed.

25.   Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations shall be implemented.

26.   It is agreed by all that there is no transparency in the appointment process of the Judges. The criteria for appointment, promotion, posting, and jurisdiction of the judges of the highest to the lowest courts will only be merit rising above partisan considerations. The judges of higher judiciary shall be appointed on the basis of strict standards of knowledge, wisdom, morality, patriotism, sense of judgment and goodwill. In order to ensure competence, merit and transparent process in the appointment of judges of the higher courts in the light of the constitution, a law shall be enacted laying down the competence and standard through a Select Committee and Supreme Judicial Council. The CV and wealth statement of the persons so selected/recommended shall be made public.

27.   Fair justice and rule of law for the people shall be ensured through effective independence and neutrality of the judiciary. The lower courts will be freed from the control of the executives and a separate secretariat under the Supreme Court will control them.

28.   Administration of justice and the process of justice shall be transformed fully into electronic/online management to make them corruption free, transparent and accountable to the seekers of justice. The justice seekers will know about the open information of the courts through electronic/online system and mobile phone technology.

29.   Pending cases will be freed from case-jam through appointing required number of competent judges.

30.   Jury system in lower judiciary will be re-introduced on a pilot basis consisting of non-controversial, respectable, ethically correct, and ideal persons to make the judicial process transparent, speedy, and acceptable.

31.   Village-courts shall be re-formed to transform them into effective courts with a view to reduce the load of cases on the shoulder of higher courts and to encourage local justice and alternative dispute settlement. It will be examined to see whether traditional informal arbitration courts can be introduced side by side with existing village-courts under Union Parishads.

32.   A high level Judicial Commission shall be formed to reform existing worm-eaten justice system.

33.   Police in many instances does not entertain cases at the police station. This is denial of justice. Right to even justice in the criminal cases through proper protection of law on the part of criminal justice seekers will be ensured through use of online method and mobile technology.

34.   The police force will be built up congruent with the spirit of a free and democratic society. The police force will be turned into a force that revers the public through motivation, training, and moral up-liftment through ensuring judicial oversight on the police in the light of CrPC, PRB, Police Act, and all other relevant Acts and Rules and thus create an accountable and welfare oriented public administration.

35.   The Police Force will be turned into a skilled, state of the art and well equipped force in keeping with fast changing world and technological advancements. The law enforcing agencies will be freed from partisan influence to make them smart, skilled, neutral and welfare oriented so that they can protect life, liberty, and property of the public and establish peace and discipline and rule of law through performing duties neutrally and professionally. All sorts of undesirable political interference on the law enforcing agencies will be stopped.

36.   Lower field level police staff including Police Constable / Traffic Police and ASIwill not be allowed to continue in duties at a stress for more than 8 hours, or they shall not be compelled to do so. For performing risky duties, they will be given Risk Allowance and for working beyond 8 hours, they will be paid Overtime Allowance at reasonable rate per hour. Effective steps will be taken to solve the housing problem of the police personnel of the rank of ASI down to Constables.

37.   Pay and allowances and other privileges of the public servants shall be increased in line with the prices of the essentials.

38.   Far reaching reform program will be taken up for the police and public administration to ensure public safety. It has become a big challenge in Bangladesh to appoint right person to the right post. Rising above personal bias, or parochial party loyalty, public administration will be reorganized on the basis of merit, honesty, efficiency, capability, patriotism, morality, and sense of judgement.

39.   An efficient, transparent, dynamic, meritorious, accountable, consistent with the spirit of time and pro people public administration will be built up. Appointment process shall be reformed appropriately to ensure the value of merit. Quota system other than for sons and daughters of the Freedom Fighters, women, and marginal ethnic groups will be abolished. An appropriate Civil Service Act shall be enacted in keeping with dynamic globalization and in the light of the constitution. E-Governance shall be introduced at every stage. In order to increase the efficiency of public administration, advanced training will be arranged at home and abroad.

Foreign Policy

41.   BNP is firmly committed to uphold independence, sovereignty and dignity of Bangladesh. BNP will not interfere into the internal affairs of any other country neither will create any security threat to any other country. In the same vein BNP commits that strong resistance will be made if any other countryinterferes into internal affairs of Bangladesh and poses any threat to state security of Bangladesh. BNP believes that across the border Bangladesh have friends and no master. With respect to foreign relations, topmost priority will be given to national interest of Bangladesh. BNP will build up special relation with MusilmUmmah and the neighboring countries.

Service Delivery

44.   People do not get due benefit of public services due to corruption, negligence of duty, lack of feeling for the people, social discrimination, lack of accountability, lack of public awareness, and above all due to absence of people’s participation in the production and distribution of services. The quality of services provided by state and statutory bodies, including power supply, supply of drinking water, sewage services, maintenance of environmental quality, police service, judicial service, health service and administrative services shall be gradually improved through bold strides.

45.   The problems of service providing systems like power supply, drinking water, sewage and conservancy, police-judicial-health- administrative services by the public and statutory bodies will be identified and solved fast.

Liberation War & Freedom Fighters

51.   Though unfortunate, the freedom fighters could not be given due status during different regimes after the independence.

52.   BNP shall declare every freedom fighter an“honoured citizen of the state”.

53.   Corruption will be brought to an end in the name of making list of freedom fighters. BNP will make a correct list of freedom fighters through a transparent process.

54.   The allowance given to the freedom fighters will be in consonance with inflation rate. The system of distribution of this allowance will be made corruption free and flawless.

55.   Freedom fighters desirous of investment will be encouraged and will be given total cooperation. Priority will be given to efficient freedom fighters in managing Freedom Fighter Welfare Trust and business and industrial enterprises for the welfare of freedom fighters.

56.   To keep the memory of freedom struggle alive, the killing fields and mass graves distributed over different spots of the country shall be identified, and memorial monuments will be constructed.

57.   It is a matter of regret that the way the freedom fighters are evaluated at the state level, the martyrs of freedom struggle are not. BNP shall prepare a correct list of martyrs of freedom struggle through an intensive survey at the behest of the state and they shall be given due honour and state recognition. The allowance given to the families of martyr freedom fighters will be increased in keeping with the rate of inflation. A law shall be made to allow the freedom fighters to travel by bus, train, and launch at half the rate of fare so fixed.

Economy

61.   Economic inequality is getting exacerbated in Bangladesh over time. This state of affairs is not at all desirable in the interest of national unity and stability. BNP is committed to poor-friendly and egalitarian economic growth. BNP shall tackle the twin problem of poverty and rich-poor inequality through accelerating growth rate and through even distribution of its benefits.

62.   BNP wants to transform Bangladesh by 2030 into a modern and democratic high-middle-income country. Within this period, per capita income shall be upgraded to $5000. In order to achieve this goal BNP shall adopt creative and intelligent initiative toboost annual growth rate to a double digit figure.

63.   Establishment of manufacturing industry in Bangladesh is very costly due to scarcity of land. Given this harsh reality, BNP will go for economic use of limited land resources to set up industries and will also adopt a development strategy of least-land-intensive modern service industries like bank, insurance and financial service, hotel-restaurant, IT industry, amusement industry, tourism, transportation, telecommunication, distance-learning, air-hub, water-hub, security services, ports and shipping, tele-medicine etc.

64.   The power and supervisory role of the central bank shall be upgraded to ensure discipline in the financial sector of the country. In the backdrop of share market and bank plundering, capable, honest and efficient persons shall be appointed in the Security and Exchange Commission and in the board of directors of nationalized banks to stop furthercorruption in these sectors.Political interference in the functioning of the financial institutions shall be put to an end. Shedding partisan and parochial considerations, the members of the board of directors and other executives of the public and private banks shall be appointed on the basis of competence, honesty and efficiency. Banking division in the Ministry of Finance shall be abolished, and the task of monitoring the nationalized banks shall vest with the Central Bank.

Demographic Dividend

66.   Bangladesh is passing through a demographic transition. At the moment 63.25% of Bangladesh population falls within the age bracket of 15-64. Therefore the biggest proportion of Bangladesh population falls in the group of active population. It has significance for economic development. A country where the proportion of children, juveniles and old age people is lower can accelerate the pace of economic development through utilizing the active population. However, such opportunity comes only once in a nations life. Both the children and the old age people are dependent on the income earned by the active people. Under such a situation, higher proportion of active population contributes towards accelerated and higher economic growth. Active population includes both woman and man. South Korea could take advantage out of demographic transition and has become a developed state. On the other hand despite being wealthy, Nigeria could not take advantage of this situation, and therefore mired in poverty.

67.   According to a projection of the Asian Development Bank, the size of active population of Bangladesh in 2025 will be 78 million. In 2010 it was 56.7 million. In 2010, 2/3rd of the active population was minimally literate and only 4% got some form of training. Different estimationsreveal that every year 2.2 million persons enter into the job market in Bangladesh. Out of which only 1 million gets job. The rest remains unemployed.

68.   To avail the opportunity of demographic dividend, employment has to be created for all active persons. This is a huge task. In order to achieve this goal, the national savings rate has to be increased to 40%. This saving has to be invested in totality. A portion of the investment will be used for required human resource development. The other potion has to be used for the fast development of agriculture, industry, and service sectors.

69.   To achieve the goal of human resource development, change has to be brought in the mindset of the people. The youths of the country has to be freed from non-technical ‘Diploma Disease’. Diversity in the field of education has to be brought in consonance with taste, ability, merit, and market demand. Training program has to be introduced for professional and technical education, engineering education, medical education, science education, and different research areas of fundamental and applied scientific research, hundreds of trade and occupation (for example – plumber, fitter, electrician, electronic mechanic, health technician, nurses, master tailors, fashion designers, agricultural equipment mechanic, lathe-operator, mechanics for garments machineries and their maintenance, mechanics and engineers for industrial machineries, hospitality service, housekeeping, furniture designing, art and craft work, masonry, rod binder, land surveyor, rail workshop technicians, mechanics for vehicle, motor driving, printing technologies, and technicians for repairing mobile telephone and computers). This presupposes quality primary and secondary education. Parallely, at every stage of education and training, the quality of the teachers has to be improved. If necessary Bangladeshi scientists, engineers, and professors working abroad are to be utilized. Necessary number of institutions for trade and vocational education and certification are to be developed. To develop human resources, both the government and private sectors have to be utilized efficiently. Instructors and trainers of technical and vocational institutes have to be given special economic and other benefits, so that these institutions become effective. The banks and financial institutions have to be encouraged to spend for human resource development a larger slice of the money they use for corporate social responsibility. The main strategy during demographic transition period will be to create efficient human resources through enhancing savings and investments and to create attractive job market through investment in them. It will be necessary to create a bridge between education, research, training institutions, and business firms. Human resource has to be developed through advanced knowledge, technology, information technology, and education, and create jobs for the human resources so developed. There has to be a balance among tacit knowledge, applied knowledge, theoretical knowledge, applied and theoretical research, and such other knowledge creation activities. If we want to make Bangladesh a developed and dignified nation, there is no other alternative to achieve demographic dividend. Attaining demographic dividend is one of the priorities of BNP.

70.   According to human development index–HDI 2016 of the United Nations, Bangladesh ranks 139th position among 188 countries. This indicates that Bangladesh has not yet been able to achieve high index of human development and could not take effective steps for achieving the demographic dividend. BNP shall adopt planned and effective steps for attaining High Human Development Index within 2030.

Information & Communication Technology (ICT)

85.   Though the present government talks big about the ICT Sector, the real picture in not that bright. ITU Report 2016 informs us that Bangladesh ranks 145th among 175 countries in ICT sector, lagging behind Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan. BNP will give priority to ICT sector and will take effective measures to enable Bangladesh march along with the rest of the world. Human resource in ICT will be excelled. 

86.   ICT sector shall be transformed into the highest foreign currency earner by 2030 in keeping with the service-driven economic strategy. Outsourcing and software development shall be encouraged. All irrational obstacles on the repatriation of foreign currency earnings from ICT sector shall be removed. All global payment gateway facilities will be allowed at minimal charge.

87.   Consistent policy and strategy shall be adopted for content creation and publication.

88.   NTTN, ISP, and IIG shall be opened up leading to more competition, enhanced efficiency, and lowering the internet cost.

89.   VOIP will be opened up. This will ease up and reduce communication cost with the rest of the world. Business using internet and the people in general will gain in efficiency and productivity. A great leap forward will be realized in exports, domestic market oriented industries, e-commerce, and ICT sector in general including outsourcing. There shall be employment creation, skill development, and a boost for government revenue. The corruption ruling roost in VOIP sector will be arrested.

90.   Optimum use of ICT will be ensured in any sector that demands its use, such as administration, judiciary, education, health, commerce, communication, agriculture, and research. A specific and clear policy-package shall be adopted towards this end.

91.   A national award will be introduced in recognition of extra ordinary contribution in ICT. National ICT award shall be declared for the best school, the best college, the best teacher, and the best freelancer.

92.   Foreign investment in ICT sector shall be eased. To ensure foreign investment and domestic and foreign initiative in the ICT sector, appropriate institutional arrangement and different types of incentives shall be provided. In order to make maximum use of IT Innovation Fund, different creative and coordinated plan shall be implemented by 2030. Meritorious youths and interested entrepreneurs working in software industry and IT service sector shall be given all-out assistance. A consultancy organization will be built up to enable innovation capacity of the new entrepreneurs and its application. In the appropriate field, entrepreneurs who are financially insolvent will be given financial incentives at low rate of interest through expandingthestartup-fund.It will be encouraged to create Mutual Fund and Venture Capital for ICT industry through the capital market.

93.   Very high speed internet will be ensured in keeping with time through developing internet infrastructure so that mobile data can be transferred within shortest possible time and broadband will be provided at low cost.

94.   Multiple links will be established with submarine cable to enhance capacity of bandwidth and uninterrupted internet connectivity will be ensured.

95.   High speed 4G coverage will be ensured for the whole country, especially for the rural areas through the mobile companies. In correspondence with international development, 4G or higher speed internet coverage will be ensured in future.

96.   Different types of incentives will be given to software and hardware industries. Domestic production of different components of internet such as smartphone, laptop, etc. will be encouraged. Zero tariff rate shall continue for all items used in ICT.

97.   Modern ICT infrastructure will be built up through providing uninterrupted, stable, and quality electricity and IT Parks, both public and private, in different areas of the country including Kaliakoir. Software Technology Park, Hi tech Park, Education Park, Computer Village and IT incubator will be established to enhance opportunities for knowledge development and employment home and abroad. High capacity Data Centers will be established through public and private initiative.

98.   Computer aided learning will be introduced up to HSC level. At this stage, computer programming education will also be introduced. Huge number of well trained teachers will be appointed to achieve the goal.

99.   A ‘Smart School’ will be established in every district so that these schools serve the purpose of model technology demonstrator.

100.   Computer training institutes for training of the computer teachers will be established in every district.

101.   IT institutes will be established in different tiers under the local government. IT sector shall be encouraged by providing scholarship to the students. More developed IT education system will be established through providing adequate teachers, hardware and laboratory facilities by 2020 at the secondary level, and by 2025 at the primary level. Skill development course shall be introduced along with general education in every school and college.All educational institution and public-placesshall be brought within free and safe internet Wi-Fi zone.

102.   BNP shall remove all obstacles blocking free speech, and freedom of thought of the people. Undemocratic sections of laws relating to ICT and social media (Cyber Security Act, ICT Act, etc.)shall be amended.

103.   BNP shall produce an appropriate and well-timed policy to fix-up specific responsibility of electrical and electronic goods producers, importers, sellers, and buyers to protect the country from the hazards of e-waste. An appropriate collection and management system for e-waste will be developed.

104.   ICT will be BNP’s thrust sector.

Culture

112.   Culture is the facial reflection of a nation. Mentality and taste of a nation is expressed through culture. A culturally handicapped nation can never raise its head high among the international community. The character and nature of national culture develops through the integration of tradition and modernity. The objective of culture-practice will be inculcation of patriotism, human values, national identity, and enjoy pristine entertainment. Anything that is gracious and benign in the outer world will be integrated with national culture. BNP will resist all sorts of immoral sky-culture, and other forms of cultural aggression. Music, dance drama, plays, films and literary practice and all other components of culture consistent with national tradition will be enriched. Culture-practice reflective of bad taste and conflicting with national ethos will be discouraged. All obstacles in the way of practicing democratic culture will be removed. Democratic norms shall be perused to enable expression of free thought and ideas through culture.

113.   Environment and facilities for healthy practice of culture and recreation will be created in the educational institutions.

114.   The practice of giving awards in different core areas of national culture will be further expanded.

Media and the Freedom of Expression

124.   BNP always welcomes objective criticism. It is the duty of the state to ensure the professional freedom of the journalists and provide security to the constructive and objective critics. BNP will continuously try to fulfill this responsibility.

125.   The controversial Section 57 of the IT ACT will be repealed.

126.   It is necessary to formulate a set of principles consistent with free thinking and democratic spirit of print, electronic, and online media. BNP will constitute a Commission led by a former Justice of the Supreme Court, and renowned educationist, renowned citizen, IT Specialist, and experienced journalist as members. Policy for print, electronic, and online media acceptable to all quarters will be adopted on the basis of the report of this Commission.

127.   BNP shall recover the environment for honest journalism and shall ensure trial of sensational ‘Shagor-Runi Murder Case’ and killing of all other journalists. BNP shall withdraw all politically motivated false cases filed against the journalists.

Peasants and Agriculture

133.   Keeping in view high population density and shrinking agricultural land, innovative agricultural strategy shall be adopted. Crop zoningshall be encouraged considering the suitability of cultivation of particular crops for the plains, hills and ‘haor-baor’ areas. Peasants will be enthused to cultivate HYV and high value crops. Appropriate marketing policy will be adopted to sustain farmers’ effort in this direction. Canal digging and river training activities shall be strengthened to ensure irrigation and removal of water logging.

134.   BNP is committed to the development agriculture and the peasantry. Due to various types of market manipulation peasants do not get fair price for their crops. An appropriate blending of price-support and input subsidy policies shall made to enable farmers get fair price for their products. Data-base will be built up in every union parishads to channelize support to the deserving farmers. A database of the farmers deserving state support shall be created through open meeting at every union parishad.

135.   Non availability of quality seeds is a serious problem for Bangladesh agriculture. In order to solve this problem seed multiplication farms and seed processing centers shall be set up in every upa-zilla. As the farmers would be getting benefit from this, total output will grow up by 8% to 10%.

136.   Agricultural wages go up in the busy seasons due to shortage of agricultural labor at a specific time. Therefore, cost of agricultural production also goes up. With a view to easing labor shortage situation, incentives will be provided to produce appropriate agricultural tools. Non-farm employment will be created to absorb surplus agricultural labor in the slack season.

137.   Peasants do not get fair price for their products as they do not have any control over the marketing process. Handling, sorting, storage and transport facilities will be brought under farmers’ control through creation of vertical co-operative societies and necessary state support will be given to this end.

138.   Modern agriculture is highly research dependent. Invention of new varieties of HYV seeds, salinity resistant seeds, less thirsty crops, shortening maturity period of crops, pest resistant crops, multiple cropping within one season and more than one season and input saving crops etc. will be the goal of setting up modern research stations for agriculture. A reasonable portion of the state budget will be ear-marked for agricultural research.

139.   Miniscule holding size of Bangladesh agriculture has put a limit on the scope of commercialization of Bangladesh agriculture. This will further intensify in future. This problem can be overcome through technological innovations. Necessary state initiatives shall be undertaken to this end. Commercial farming subjects the farmers to vagaries of market. State shall adopt creative measures to protect the farmers from market-vagaries.

140.   Agriculture is highly prone to different types of risk. In order to face this problem crop insurance, live-stock insurance, fisheries insurance and poultry insurance will be introduced, if required, with subsidy.

141.   Interest on agricultural loan for poor peasants and natural disaster affected peasants will be given waver.

142.   Necessary regulatory mechanism shall be developed to ensure supply and manufacture of safe poultry and fish feed.Protection measures against epidemic diseases like bird-flu shall be ensured. For recycling of poultry feathers and excreta, soft-term credit facilities will be ensured.

143.   Comprehensive research initiatives will be undertaken for the development of poultry, fisheries, live-stock, agricultural crops and forest resources.

144.   In every Upazilla, veterinary doctors will be appointed and adequate supply of veterinary medicine shall be ensured.

145.   Private sector will be given incentives for developing goat, cattle and buffalofarms.

146.   Private sector will be given incentive to set up agro-processing industries.

147.   Non-agricultural use of agricultural land will be stopped. In order to achieve this goal clustered housing scheme will be undertaken in the rural areas.

148.   The main objective of agricultural development will be to ensure food and nutrition security. To ensure balanced and safe nutritious food (calorie, protein, vitamins, minerals, fat etc) the agriculture sector will be totally reorganized and flourished through appropriate incentives. Use of unsafe and harmful manure and pesticides shall be stopped.

149.   Shahid President Ziaur Rahman took the first initiative to develop the haors and the life and livelihood of people living in the haor areas through establishment of Haor Development Board on 22nd February, 1977. We must think anew about haor-economy, the haor people, and the haor environment. Planned and multi-dimensional initiatives will be taken to encourage short-lived crops cultivation, aquatic agriculture, planned irrigation, establishment of fish sanctuary, planned duck farming, providing subsidy to the fishermen in hard days, to bring the entire haor under a planned tourism development scheme. To conserve and develop the flora and fauna of the haors, and to utilize the extensive possibilities of the haor areas in both dry and wet season, well designed measures shall be taken.

Urbanization & Housing

153.   A national master planconsistent with double-digit growth rate shall be formulated to discipline fast and anarchically growing urbanization. In order to implement this plan, a policy forappropriate market incentive and regulatory mechanism shall be adopted.

154.   The challenge of urbanization shall be met by reducing growing population pressure in big cities through administrative and economic decentralization and infrastructure development at zilla and upa-zilla towns.

155.   Planned residential system such as clustered housing and vertical residence will be built up in the villages without spoiling farm land. For planned use of land in industrialization and urbanization, a policy shall be framed and implemented.

156.   Coordinated strategy shall be adopted and implemented for waste management and traffic management in the cities.

157.   Right to housing is a fundamental right of every citizen. BNP shall give housing facilities at an affordable cost to low income people through a realistic and multi-purpose project. Illegally occupied land shall be retrieved and slum-dwellers and the poor homeless people will be settled over there. In this way, all slum-dwellers and poor people of the country will be given housing facilities phase by phase.

Heath Services

159.   ‘Health for all’ will be BNP’s health policy. To make affordable health services easily accessible to all, universal health coverage will be introduced within the fastest possible time.

160.   Health insurance will be introduced in phases.

161.   GP (General Practitioner)system shall be introduced to ensure cost-free health services to all the citizens. One doctor will be earmarked for every citizen. This will ensure universal health coverage on the one hand and create employment opportunities for the doctors on the other. 50 items of essential medicines will be distributed to the poor free of cost. An effective referral system will be developed.

162.   BNP will take effective measures for prevention and cure of all communicable, non-communicable and newly emerged diseases not known earlier on the basis of the principle of ‘Prevention is better than Cure’.

163.   5% of GDP will be spent on the health sector. BNP’s objective is to turn Bangladesh intoa healthy developed nation through national health development by preventing corruption and irregularities in health sector.

164.   The price of drugs will be reasonably reduced even after ensuring reasonable profit of producers, wholesalers and retailers. Domestic production of drugs, basic ingredients of drugs and medical equipment will be encouraged.

165.   Developed medical facilities will be made easily accessible at the rural level through gradual expansion of developed medical facilities to the Division, District and Sub-District level. In order to make surgery facilities available at the sub-district level, special emphasis will be given on the creation of anesthetists and their posting in sub district health complex with pay incentive.

166.   At least quarter of a million new doctors and proportionate number of nurses and health technicians will be required to attain high medium income country-status by 2030.To achieve this goal,realistic and standard system shall be developed.

167.   All- time health services with lab facilities will be ensured at every union health center by ensuring availability of two doctors therein. Every doctor will compulsorily render services at least for two years at the union health and family welfare center. The community health centers will be further strengthened through these doctors.

168.   The doctors will be appointed on the basis of merit and their higher education and training shall be arranged at home and abroad to ensure medical services in consonance with the technological development in the health sector.

169.   WHO principles will be adopted for integration and development of traditional medicine in national health services.

170.   National Accreditation Council will be formed with eminent doctors and medical educationists for development and regulation of quality health education.

171.   State-sponsored health services will be ensured for prevention of infectious disease, development of mother health and maternity health.Reduction of child mortality rate and child malnutrition will be taken special care of.

172.   Healthy and safe drinking water and hygienic sewage will be ensured.

173.   Special health care for the old people including mentally retarded and physically handicapped shall be provided. Mobile medical unit shall work for ensuring health services to the people living in coastal belt and char areas. HOSPICE-CARE will be established to mitigate prolonged sufferings of the patients afflicted with critical diseases.

174.   Incentive in the form of low-interest loan will be given to private entrepreneurs to encourage establishment of developed hospitals at district and sub-district levels.

175.   Monitoring system comprising of health and medical specialists and eminent citizens from cross-section of people shall be put in place for ensuring quality services at Government and private hospitals.

176.   BNP will take effective measures to gradually reduce population increment rate to zero percent. Family welfare programs shall be effectively expanded to all tiers of the society including slums, low-income groups and the people deprived of literacy.

Climate Change

185.   Climate change is posing a serious threat to the existence of humanity. But, countries like Bangladesh is not responsible for this situation. The industrialized countries will have to bear the liability for this. The industrialized countries will have to come forward to redress the damage due to climate change. Bangladesh will take an active initiative to create world opinion to build international cooperation frame-work and adopt  practical measure, to overcome the hazards created by climate change.

186.   People’s level of consciousness about climate change will be enhanced. To face the hazards of climate change, sustainable mitigation and adaptation strategies shall be adopted, such as reducing carbon emission, restoring canals, ‘beels’, rivers, drains, wetland, and planned urbanization. Intensive afforestation measures will be taken up throughout the whole country including the coastal areas. Appropriate measures will be taken to protect the forest and bio-diversity everywhere in the country including the Sundarbans.

Power & Energy

200.   To meet the requirements of desired double-digit growth rate (considering approximate demand for thirty five thousand megawatt of power by 2030), BNP will take initiatives to generate optimal amount of electricity. All types of energy sources available within the country shall be exploited to achieve the desired goal. A regional cooperation framework shall be developed as needed.

201.   In order to end prevailing power and energy deficit and ensure long term energy security, a well- coordinated national energy policy will be adopted and short, medium, and long term plans shall be taken up for its implementation. Least-cost generation plan shall be adopted. Correct and balanced energy- mix shall be ensured. Energy source will be diversified. Use of energy efficient electricity will be ensured and quality electricity shall be provided at cheaper and reasonable cost. Energy- auditing system will be introduced for the households, mills and factories and for power and energy users at Government and private sectors. Incentives shall be given for use of energy-efficient equipment, machineries and vehicles.

202.   Steps will be taken for modernization and rehabilitation of old and inefficient power plants on emergency basis. Dependence on domestic gas and furnace-oil shall be gradually reduced. Small, medium and large scale environment-friendly power plants shall be established in order to put permanent end to electricity crisis. In future more emphasis will be gradually given on renewable energy as dependable source for power generation. For reducing carbon emission various measures will be taken including generation of power from renewable energy, especially, solar energy, wind-power, geo-thermal, ocean waves, bio-gas and wastes. Transmission and distribution system shall be developed in line with power generation.

203.   Fuel price in the domestic market shall be determined in consonance with fuel price in the world market. Energy source will be diversified to generate power at economic price. A new 5 million ton capacity crude oil refinery shall be set up at a suitable place.

204.   Effective measures shall be taken for survey and tapping of new gas field and different mineral resources including oil at different places of the country and the Bay of Bengal. To ensure national energy security initiative will be taken to connect Bangladesh with the Gulf countries, Iran and Middle-east countries and Pakistan and India through inter - country gas line. 

205.   Initiatives shall be taken for least cost hydro- electricity generation, development of inter-country distribution system and regional energy security through development of regional water management and expansion of regional cooperation.

206.   Filthy corruption has taken place in the name of in-transparent Quick-Rental power plants where immoral indemnity has been given to cover up corruption. This propelled repeated increase of electricity price causing untold suffering to the people. BNP will establish transparency in procurement and sale process in the power and energy sector. Electricity and Energy Rapid Supply Increase Act 2010 will be amended after due examination.

207.   Supply of energy like electricity, LNG, LPG etc. to mass people and mills and industries at reasonable price shall be ensured through balanced equilibrium of imported and domestically produced energy.

208.   Regular geological survey shall be conducted to discoverdepletable resource like gas, oil etc. in the sea. Dependable policy and strategy shall be adopted for lifting, use and marketing of the resource so tapped.

209.   In energy generation safe and secure use of nuclear Power shall be ensured. The issue of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will be re examined.

Communication (Road, Rail and Waterways)

218.   Rail and water ways will be given priority in order to develop communication infrastructure of the country. A multimodal communication system will be developed throughout the country by reconstructing and rejuvenating rail, road and water transport system.

219.   A deep sea port will be built in the Bay of Bengal in the vicinity of Chittagong coastal area and it will be turned into a regional hub. The deep sea port will be connected with the capital city Dhaka and the neighboring countries through a super-highway.

220.   The efficiency of Chittagong and Mongla port will be increased and they will be modernized to make regional and international trade and connectivity easier.

221.   Once Bangladesh had 24000 kilometers of navigable waterways. But by now either because of silting or drying the waterways have come down to only 3600 kilometers. This is a horrible picture of riverine Bangladesh. A mega project will be taken up to recover selected waterways and their multi-purpose use through dredging of rivers. The multi-purpose use of these rivers will be serving as a source of surface water, fisheries, boosting the flow of surface water, and recharging underground water.

222.   Underground tunnels will be built under Karnaphully, Buriganga, Gomoti, Padma, Jamuna and Meghna rivers.

223.   To ensure safety of passengers and transportation on waterways, safe ships will be increased in the private sector and landing stations will also be increased on the bank of Buriganga and other rivers. Faster moving passenger ships will be introduced in Dhaka-Chandpur and Dhaka-Barisal routes.

224.   Necessary shipping infrastructure including pontoons will be set up in small ports and ghats spreading over different remote areas of Bangladesh.

225.   Like Pangaon, container terminal built during last BNP government, necessary number of container terminals will be built at different industrial belts of the county including Dhaka, Gazipur, and Narayanganj.

226.   To make communication and transport safe and comfortable between islands and the coastal areas, necessary infrastructure will be built up and necessary number of coastal ships will be introduced.

227.   The whole country shall be brought under rail network through building Dhaka-Laksam cord line, Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar and Dhaka-Barisal railway line. Fast trains shall be introduced among Dhaka and other divisional cities. Thus all the districts of the country will be brought under rail network in phases.

228.   Bangladesh will be connected with Asian Highway. Initiatives will be taken to establish regional road connectivity and rail connection between Dhaka and Kunming.

229.   To solve traffic jam problem of the cities including Dhaka and Chittagong, traffic system shall be revamped.

230.   For further development of road transportation, second JamunaBridge, second Padma Bridge at Paturia-Daulotdia points and Brahmaputra Bridge shall be constructed. More bridges shall be constructed over the rivers Buriganga, Meghna, Gomoti, and Karnaphully. Necessary bridges will be constructed over small and big rivers.

231.   Dhaka-Chittagong express highway will be constructed to facilitate fast movement between Dhaka and Chittagong. Highways throughout the country will be developed into four lanes in phases. Road network such as national highways, regional highways, Upazilla connecting roads, and local roads will be developed appropriately and their maintenance will be ensured.

232.   Initiatives for establishing road and rail communication network with SAARC and ASEAN countries will be taken. Initiative will also be taken to be connected with ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative of People’s China.

Conservation of Resources

242.   Capital and material assets that we build up and renewable natural resources   that are used up are hardly maintained and replenished in Bangladesh. This culture of non-conservation erodes our economy and reduces resource flows for the use of future generation. This lack of conservation of resources also tells upon the benefit stream and longevity of development projects. BNP shall make indefatigable efforts to rejuvenate forests, store up water available in the monsoon for use in the dry season through excavating canals, water reservoirs, recycling of water and maintaining water quality. Too much mining of ground water will be gradually substituted by making surface water available.

243.   A detailed and intensive survey of our sea resources (blue economy) will be undertaken and ensure their prudent exploitation and use. Sea resources shall be protected from plunder by hostile powers.

244.   In Bangladesh there are many spots of scenic beauty. These spots have been subjected to demographic invasion over the years. The government shall identify these spots and develop them for enjoyment by the tourists.

245.   Rivers that have been polluted and captured through human intervention and   human greed shall be restored to their original state. Revitalization of polluted and occupied rivers will go a long way towards development of aquatic resources, irrigation and river transportation. Char areas of the country will be developed as pastures and grazing land for bovine animals to increase the abundance of milk and meat. 

246.   Frequent digging of roads and breaking road dividers cause immense sufferings to the people and destroy assets. BNP wants to adopt far reaching and coordinated planning to come out of this culture.

Earthquake Disaster

248.   Bangladesh has done well in disaster management like floods, cyclones and tidal-surge; but many things more are yet to be done in these areas. A new type of disaster that looms large on the horizon is earthquake. Bangladesh has experienced moderate to nearly dangerous tremors in the recent years. It is apprehended that a severe earthquake may cause serious havocs to living souls and structures.

Preparedness for facing earth-quake disaster is almost absent. BNP considers earthquake as a serious threat to living being/animals and development. In order to face earthquake disaster large volunteer-corps shall be raised to assist the relevant government agencies.Modern and heavyequipment’s for rescue operations shall be procured, and post-earthquake relief and rehabilitation including providing curative and life-saving health services shall be put in place. An initiative for planned and comprehensive earthquake disaster management will be set in earnest.

Communal Harmony

254.   Social, political, economic and religious rights and right to life, liberty and property of all small and big nationalities provided in the constitution will be fully protected and secured irrespective of cast and creed and party following and opinion.

255.   Followers of every religion shall enjoy full rights to practice their religious beliefs and rituals. No one will be allowed to hurt any citizen’s religious belief.

256.   Any attempt to destroy communal harmony will be sternly dealt with.