Islami Andolon Bangladesh announces election manifesto

Ahead of the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, Islami Andolon Bangladesh has announced its election manifesto, outlining a 28-point sector-based development plan.

The manifesto was formally unveiled on Wednesday (February 4) afternoon at the IAB auditorium in Purana Paltan, Dhaka, by the party’s Ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim.

Key points of the 28-point manifesto include achieving economic prosperity, controlling inflation and protecting people’s purchasing power, effective management of foreign loans, establishing good governance in the financial sector, sustainable graduation from LDC status, creating an investment-friendly environment, ensuring public safety and rule of law, and developing citizen-friendly cities and villages.

Other commitments include a morality- and science-based vocational education system, universal employment, decent job creation for youth, aligning education with labour market demands, and establishing an integrated agricultural system focusing on production, preservation and marketing.

The manifesto also addresses expatriate welfare, affordable and universal healthcare, senior citizen management, reducing regional development disparity, developing Bangladesh as an international tourism hub, ensuring safe and multi-dimensional communication systems, affordable and pollution-free energy for all, environmental and climate protection, housing and public works development, improvement of the information and broadcasting sector, strengthening local government, and decentralisation of power.

In addition, the manifesto highlights modern and hygienic sanitation systems, climate change and disaster management, water resource management, and preservation of the spirit of the July mass uprising and the Liberation War.

Speaking at the press conference, Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim said the country’s economy is currently in a fragile state, as exports are one-dimensional and labour-dependent. If Islami Andolon Bangladesh comes to power, exports will be diversified and made technology-driven, while domestic production will be increased to reduce import dependency.

He also said corruption and lack of good governance persist in the financial sector, adding that his party would take effective measures to stop corruption in banks, prevent money laundering, and ensure professionalism in foreign debt management.