Bangladesh as we want to see in 2021
1. Caretaker Government, Democracy & Effective Parliament
*Democracy and strong democratic institutions will be established for holding reliable election at regular intervals, accountability of government and effective Parliament. All necessary steps will be taken for making Parliament effective.
2. Political framework, Decentralization of Power & People’s Participation
*Local government will be given due importance with a view to effecting radical change of the political system. The local government institutions will play a critical role in development programmes. Self-reliant local self-government institutions will be established at upazila and zila levels to this end.
3. Good governance through establishing Rule of Law and avoiding Political Partisanship
*Human rights will be established on a strong footing with a view to ensuring rule of law. Independence of the judiciary will be ensured and the Institutions of the State and Administration will be freed from partisan influence. The basis of appointment and promotion will be merit, efficiency, seniority, honesty and loyalty to the Republic; political connection will have no relevance.
4. Transformation of political culture
*Terrorism, corruption and use of religion for politics will be stopped. Steps appropriate to the time will be taken to establish democratic principles in the political parties, transparency of political funding, civility and tolerance.
5. A society free from corruption
*The institutions of the State will be made more effective along with the independent and strong Anti-corruption Commission for curbing corruption. Social resistance to corruption will be promoted along side legal steps. All possible steps will be taken to stop corruption such as Charter of Citizens’ Rights, Right to Information, Computerization of Official Documents, and Decentralization of Power.
6. Empowerment and Equal Rights for Women
*The Women’s Policy of 1997 will be revived for ensuring equal right and access for women to the state and social space; laws which discriminate against women will be amended; and 100 seats will be reserved for women for direct election.
7. Economic Development & Initiative
a. Meeting basic needs: With a view to providing food, clothing, shelter, education and health care to the citizens in accordance with Article 15 of the Constitution, gross
domestic product will be raised to 8% by 2013 and 10% by 2021 which will be sustained thereafter.
b. Population and labour force: Population in 2021 is estimated at 165 million, and labour force at 105 million. Programmes will be taken up for employment of 85% of the work force.
c. Alleviation of poverty: We aim not at reduction of poverty, but removal of poverty, to which end we shall try to achieve the Millennium Goals declared by UN by 2015, and by 2017 latest. Beginning in 2021, poverty will be reduced to 15% from 45% now progressively. Poverty will rise from 45 million now to 65 million in 2021, and then fall to 25 million in 2021. Sustainable safety net will be established for the extreme poor until poverty is removed.
d. Food & nutrition: Food deficit will be removed and self-reliance in food production achieved by 2012, which will enable us to meet the nutrition needs of 85% of the population.
e. Health Care: By 2021, minimum daily intake of 2122 kilo calories of food, elimination of contagious disease, primary health care and sanitation for all will be ensured. Average longevity will be increased to seventy years, and efforts will be made for the reduction of child and maternal mortality.
f. Education: Enrolment at the primary level will be increased to 100 percent net by 2010. Elimination of illiteracy by 2014, improvement in the quality of education, creation of a generation educated in science and technology, make degree level education free by 2013 and ensuring higher salary for teachers are the other educational goals.
g. Industry: A strong foundation for industrialization will be established by 2021. Contribution of the industrial sector to national GDP will be doubled. Primacy will be given to agro and labour intensive industries and the highest emphasis will be given to information technology sector. The investment policy will be geared to implementing a strategy attracting both domestic and foreign investment.
h. Energy Security: An energy policy will be adopted tapping all sources of traditional and non-traditional energy to ensure accelerated rate of economic development and industrialization. A three year crash programme will be taken up to meet the existing crisis. By 2015, electricity production will be increased to 8000 megawatt. By 2021, demand for electircity is projected to increase to 20,000 megawatt. We will take all possible actions aiming at enhancing our generation capacity. To increase gas production, regular survey of gas resources and work on well development will be undertaken. To meet energy demand, efforts will be undertaken for regional energy security through mutual cooperation in addition to exploring internal sources.
i. Infrastructural Development: Road, rail, river and air transport and telecommunication systems will be expanded. Construction of bridge, tunnel for Padma and Karnaphuli rivers, connecting Bangladesh with Asian Highway and Asian Railway, improvement of port facilities, building of a deep sea port to open up Bangladesh ports to countries of Asia will be implemented. In Dhaka, construction of metro tunnel, elevated rail and circular rail to remove traffic jams and to solve public transport problems will be studied forthwith in order to undertake a feasible project. The project will then be implemented on a priority basis
j. Housing: By 2015, housing for all will be ensured. In every union and upazila, ‘growth center’ centric village housing and in towns housing with modern amenities will be implemented.
k. Environment: All measures will be taken to protect Bangladesh– including planned migration abroad– from the adverse effects of climate change and global warming. Facing natural calamities, planned reduction of air pollution, prevention of industry and transport related air pollution and disposal of waste in scientific manner will be ensured. Steps will be taken to make Bangladesh an ecologically attractive place through retention of forests and water bodies and prevention of river erosion.
l. Water Resources: Bangladesh Awami League will take the initiative to formulate a comprehensive regional water policy along with India, Nepal and Bhutan for regional water security. In addition, in keeping with a comprehensive water police, articulated earlier by Bangladesh Awami League, measures will be taken for development of our water resources and their rational use.
8. Bangladesh in the Global Arena
a. Achievments of liberation: Multi-pronged measures will be taken to uphold the glorious history and the fruits of liberation, to energize the new generation with the spirit of liberation struggle, patriotism and love for humanity. Highest priority will be given to development of innovative spirit of the younger generations and opportunity will be provided for them to participate in nation building activities.
b. Culture: Measures will be taken to remove obstacles in the development of Bengali culture, literature, art, music and sport and to provide all opportunities by the state to enable the younger generations to attain international standards and to contribute to the nation.
c. Foreign Policy: In international affairs Bangladesh will follow the policy of ‘friendship towards all and malice towards none’.

Anti Corruption Commission Chairman

The Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) Chief Special Public Prosecutor (CSPP) ABM Sharfuddin Khan Mukul yesterday resigned on “personal” grounds.

Mukul told The Daily Star that he submitted his resignation letter to the ACC chairman at noon.

“I have moved the corruption cases on behalf of the Anti-corruption Commission against Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, who is now going to assume the state power. It is now very embarrassing for me to stand against Hasina in the court,” he said, adding that he did not feel security problems.

About the cases against Hasina, Mukul said, “If the government now wants my opinion to withdraw the cases against the AL chief, I will say that the cases cannot be withdrawn since the High Court has stayed those. Complexities will be created then. Considering the changed situation, I have resigned from the office of the ACC prosecutor showing personal grounds,” he added.

He said there was no pressure on him to quit the job.

Asked what will be consequences of the cases against Hasina, Mukul, a noted criminal lawyer, said the ACC will now take decision on dealing with the cases.

“I made some comments about the cases against Hasina since I was the prosecutor of the Anti-corruption Commission. Now I should not make any comment on the consequences of the cases,” he said.

Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir

The Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict and Bangladesh Bank’s (BB) probe report will decide the fate of three MPs-elect as two of them contested Monday’s national election following an interim SC order and the other is an alleged loan defaulter.

The lawmakers-elect might lose membership of parliament if the court verdict and probe report go against them, electoral experts said referring to electoral laws.

One of them — AKM Maidul Islam– was elected on Jatiya Party (JP) nomination from Kurigram-3 constituency. He had reportedly concealed information about defaulted bank loan, and against whom Sonali Bank complained to the Election Commission (EC) seeking justice.

The other two –Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and Shafiqul Azam Khan– were elected on Awami League (AL) ticket from Chandpur-1 and Jhenidah-3 respectively as the interim SC order entitled them to contest the election.

The EC on Wednesday asked the BB to probe the allegation against Maidul that he concealed information about defaulted loan in his nomination paper for contesting the election, sources said.

In a letter to the central bank governor, the commission asked for sending the probe report in seven days.

Sonali Bank also filed a case with the Money Loan Court against Maidul for defaulting loan of Tk 23.58 crore. The case is pending with the court, sources said.

The bank had also complained to the Returning Officer (RO) during scrutiny of nomination papers but the RO did not entertain the complaint, sources said.

As per the Representation of the People Order (RPO), an individual having defaulted loan is not eligible to contest the election. If he is proved guilty of concealing information about his defaulted loan, his membership of parliament might be cancelled, electoral law experts noted.

And Alamgir was not eligible to contest the poll since he was convicted under the emergency powers rules, which barred convicts from electoral race.

During scrutiny, the RO had cancelled Alamgir’s nomination paper, and he filed an appeal with the EC challenging the RO’s decision.

The EC rejected Alamgir’s appeal but the AL leader got back his candidacy on an interim court order.

Similarly, Shafiqul was ineligible to contest the poll as per an EC decision, which was upheld by the High Court.

In its decision, the EC said mayors of city corporations and municipalities are not eligible to contest parliamentary election unless they resign from the posts before filing nomination papers since the posts are deemed as office of profit.

But responding to an appeal by Dhaka City Corporation Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka, the SC chamber judge stayed the EC’s decision for a few weeks. In such a situation, Shafiqul became eligible to contest the poll.

The EC however has decided to launch a legal battle against the SC’s interim order when the matter comes for final disposal. It has already consulted legal experts in this regard, sources said.

Some others also got back their candidacies following the SC order but lost the poll battle.

Small political parties in Bangladesh

Twenty-five small political parties that fielded 716 candidates in the December 29 parliamentary election bagged only 2.38 percent of the total votes.

However, the 148 independent candidates in the polls got 2.95 percent of the total votes while four of them won parliamentary seats.

But no candidate of the 25 parties won any seat. Moreover, as per the preliminary calculation of the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat, most of them have lost their security deposits for poor performance in the polls.

However, despite poor performance in the election, all political parties, registered with the EC, are entitled to receive donations, a set of electoral rolls in a CD and broadcast facilities in the state-owned media during the general election.

Besides, as per the Representation of the People Order (RPO), the EC will consult with the small political parities, like the major ones, any election-related matter especially the problems and measures for holding election fairly.

In the previous elections, the performance of minor parties was almost the same.

Of the total 7,03,57,353 votes, the 25 parties bagged 16,59,945 while the independent candidates got 20,58,998.

The independent candidates performed better as four of them won seats while many others managed to save their security deposits.

Of the smaller parties, six got less than 0.01 percent votes, three 0.01 percent, three 0.02 percent and three others 0.03 percent votes.

The parties that got less than 0.01 percent votes include Ganotantri Party (five candidates, 2565 votes), Biplobi Workers Party of Bangladesh (five candidates, 2021 votes), Bangladesh Muslim League (five candidates, 1436 votes), Islamic Front Bangladesh (three candidates, 1347 votes), Freedom Party (two candidates, 566 votes) and Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal (one candidate, 297 votes).

Among the small political parties, Islami Andolan Bangladesh fielded highest 166 candidates who bagged 7,33,969 votes or 1.05 percent of the total votes.

Progotishil Ganotantrik Party led by Ferdous Ahmed and Bangladesh Kalyan Party led by Maj Gen (Retd) Mohammad Ibrahim drew public attention as the two parties were formed during the tenure of the present caretaker government.

But, both the parties performed poorly. Progotishil Ganotantrik Party got only 14,224 votes or 0.02 percent of the total votes fielding candidates in 21 seats while Bangladesh Kalyan Party bagged 21,726 votes or 0.03 percent of the total votes fielding candidates in 39 seats.

Bikalpadhara Bangladesh (BDB) led by former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and Gono Forum led by eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain also performed poorly in the election.

BDB fielded candidates in 63 constituencies and got only 148154 votes which is 0.21 percent of the total votes.

Forty-five candidates of Gono Forum contested the election and bagged only 72,867 votes or 0.10 percent of the total votes.

However, two other small political parties Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) and Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (Jagpa), which are components of the four-party alliance performed better.

The IOJ fielded candidates in four constituencies and got 1,08,415 votes or 0.16 percent of the total votes while Jagpa contested two seats and bagged 1,07,796 votes or 0.15 percent of the total votes.

The other small parties include Jamiate Ulamaye Islam Bangladesh (six candidates and 1,73,633 votes or 0.25 percent), Zaker party (36 candidates, 1,29,289 votes or 0.19 percent), Krishak Sramik Janata League (46 candidates, 1,05,635 votes or 0.15 percent), Communist Party of Bangladesh (37 candidates, 42,167 votes or 0.06 percent), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (57 candidates, 38,888 votes or 0.06 percent), Bangladesh Islami Front (17 candidates, 31,450 votes or 0.05 percent), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (24 candidates, 29422 votes or 0.04 percent), Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish (nine candidates, 28546 votes or 0.04 percent), Bangladesh Tarikat Federation (31 candidates, 19,750 votes or 0.03 percent), Bangladesh National Awami Party (13 candidate, 19639 votes or 0.03 percent), Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan (30 candidates, 13,759 votes or 0.02 percent), National People’s Party (29 candidates, 13,699 votes or 0.02 percent), Bangladesh National Awami Party (six candidates, 8799 votes or 0.01 percent), Ganofront (14 Candidates, 3,990 votes or 0.01 percent) and Oikyabaddha Nagarik Andolan (11 candidates, 3,543 votes or 0.01 percent).

The world has reacted very positively and Bangladeshis living abroad are proud and excited. To a few observers in the international news media, this achievement is a huge deal simply because we are an “impoverished, Muslim country”; the election is important because the rise of fundamentalism in Bangladesh is seen as a threat.

True, but the significance of the 2008 election is greater than that. The men and women of Bangladesh have demanded liberty and dignity again by participating in a democratic election where the new leaders will be held accountable for what they promised. With this election Bangladesh has fully embraced democracy. Now begins the crucial journey to rapid and sustained economic development which is the topmost priority of the new parliamentary government.

Throughout history, Bangladeshis have shown an exemplary spirit of innovation and tolerance to their fellow beings, even in the face of unimaginable hardships. Too long this true spirit has been hidden under war, poverty, or corruption. At this critical time, Bangladesh is well within the reality of eliminating dire poverty within one generation. The new government should keep out of the way of this force of innovation and economic/social growth in Bangladesh. But at the same time the government must do some of the hard, but important things it has been hired to do: remove structural poverty by helping those who cannot afford foods, clothes, shelter or medical care; significantly improve the law and order situation (which is inextricably linked with economic development); continue to build international anti-terrorism alliances so that extremism cannot take root in the country.

Just a few years ago, India and China were described as impoverished nations with anti-democratic societies filled with human rights abuses. While these countries still are not perfect, they have emerged as the key players in the world economy today. It is incredible how people’s spirit can lift a wounded nation. It is a curious combination of a nation’s dedication and hard work, as well as the abiding commitment of its leaders. Bangladesh can also rapidly progress in today’s world economy if she stays true to her spirit of innovation and tolerance. It will not surprise me if Bangladesh emerges as a world leader in my lifetime.

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We congratulate the elected government. We expect the new elected government will do everything for the welfare of people. In addition, this government needs to keep an eye on education. Because education is the backbone of a nation. Only an educated person can perform any task smoothly and properly.

And we would like all political representatives to work together for our country.