By The Numbers
Who to vote for
Which party will meet these demands? Photo: Noor Alam/Drik News
ELECTIONEERING is going on full swing with the withdrawal of restrictions on rallies and completion of seat-sharing deal by the major parties. The electorates will vote after considering the parties' manifestos and competency in tackling the myriad problems facing the country. Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia kicked-off their respective parties' election campaign by visiting three shrines in Sylhet, which is seen by many as using of religion for political gain. Awami League's election manifesto prioritises five tasks, including curbing of prices of essentials and continuation of the anti-corruption drive. AL promises to form a task force along with a centre for collection and analysis of data to help cope with the global economic downturn, and to ensure self-reliance in food production. The party wants to ban the use of religion in politics and bring the war criminals to justice. Independence of judiciary will be guaranteed and good governance will be ensured through establishment of fundamental human rights and the rule of law. AL will resolve the power crisis by raising generation capacity to 5,000 megawatts by 2011 and 7,000 megawatts by 2013. It also promises to deal with militancy and terrorism with an iron hand, forming a South Asian task force. AL pledges to present a bright and successful future to the new generation, but it has not set any specific targets in the political, economic and social sectors if it is not voted to power. BNP's election manifesto gives top priority to restoration of the economy, aiming to reduce poverty by generating employment and increasing local and foreign investment. BNP promises to formulate an integrated anti-terrorism and anti-militancy policy with participation of the countries of the region. Along with a "Look East" policy, economic diplomacy will be the base of BNP's foreign policy. Jatiya Party promises to establish a terrorism, corruption and misrule-free society. Under its administrative reform agenda, the party pledges to divide the country into eight provinces, having provincial assemblies and provincial cabinets. Jamaat-e-Islami will enact a blasphemy law to prevent anti-religious publications or criticism of religion, and punish those responsible. The party seeks votes in the name of Islam. The need of the hour is for the parties to state their ideas on the kind of economic development they are aiming at. No party has yet made its plan for protecting remittance from the expatriate Bangladeshis known to the electorate. The parties must specify how they will deal with the problem of employing 20 million unemployed youth. This is the touchstone for judging the parties. Improvement of quality of life of about 30 million hardcore poor is not among the top priorities in the election manifestos. The parties should clearly state how they will face climate change, which is a great threat. The time has come for the political parties to vow to shun hartals and conflicts and promise to build a better Bangladesh through collective endeavour of all. The parties must also say in the manifestos what they will do if they lose in the polls. Unfortunately, they have released their election manifestos very late, leaving little scope for the electorate to debate their plans and vision for the next five years. The electorate is more conscious than ever before, and is no more willing to be deceived by hollow pledges. Inspired by Barack Obama's victory, the young voters who are preparing to cast their first vote expect a paradigm shift in national politics through the forthcoming polls. The parties lack democratic credentials, which assume paramount importance in a country like Bangladesh. Therefore, credibility of the parties must be carefully taken into account, without being misled by their pledges, while choosing a party to vote for. Sadly, the moment a party is voted to power, their election manifesto finds its place in the wastepaper basket. The time may have come for the electorate to articulate the demand for a legal compulsion for the political parties for meeting their polls pledges.
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