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Draft Electoral Manifesto

AL pledges to tackle graft, food prices

Assures disclosure of wealth records of MPs, their family members to ensure transparency

SHAKHAWAT LITON and Hasan Jahid Pusher
Awami League (AL) has drafted its electoral manifesto with promises to publish wealth accounts and sources of income of the prime minister, ministers, law-makers and their families to ensure transparency of those in government.
The party says containing price hike of essentials will be its top priority if voted to power.
It will ban the use of religion in politics, and bring the war criminals to justice.
To fight the graft menace, it will allow-
the Anti-Corruption Commission to function independently.
"Some kind of tnith and accountability commission may also be considered to investigate corruption of the last seven years,” reads the draft planned to be placed tomorrow before the central working committee, AL's highest decisionmakingbody.
The Daily Star has obtained a copy of the draft that says the party will deal with terrorism and militancy with an iron hand. Besides, it will be tough on loan defaulters, tender manipulators, black FROM PAGE 1
money holders and users of muscle power.
Independence of the judiciary will be guaranteed and extrajudicial killings Stopped. *y '.'r*
AL President Sheikh Hasina will unveil the manifesto at a press conference on December 12.
In the draft, AL undertakes to pursue a vigorous programme to solve shortage of electricity. It aims to raise the country's power generation capacity to 5,000 megawatts by 2011 and 7,000 megawatts by 2013. It will implement the ongoing power projects on an urgent basis.
The party will introduce e-governance and a citizen's charter in every department in efforts to reduce corruption and increase quality in public services.
To strengthen the legislature and promote accountability of the government, it will arrange for the speaker of parliament to be elected from the majority party and deputy speaker from the opposition.
Its lawmakers will be allowed to differ with the party line on everything except a few subjects. The number of reserved seats for women will be raised to 100 from 45.
The manifesto stresses the need to encourage mutual respect and tolerance to do away with politics of confrontation. "Awami League will take an initiative to formulate a consensual and unanimous charter of political behaviour."
AL promises to keep the armed forces above all controversy, and frame a national defence policy in consultation with every stakeholder.
It will implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts peace accord for socio-economic development of the hill districts. The treaty was signed while the party was in power in 1997.
A team of experts led by AL advisory council members HT Imam and Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has drawn up the manifesto outlining a vision for the years 2020 and 2021, the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and golden jubilee of the country's independence.
The declaration of objectives have been based on views from sector-wise experts and academics of leading national and international universities, as well as the 31-point election reform programme of AL.
AL presidium, the highest policy making body, has already given its nod of approval, said party sources.