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ensuring a safe, secure, and celebratory environment for the protection and practice of all religious beliefs,” the manifesto said.

IAB said its “Manifesto of Public Expectations” has three sections with eight points on state governance, six on state reform, and 28 points on sectoral planning.

Its state governance agenda includes treating state power as a responsibility; ensuring a stable transition of power; maintaining respectful and cooperative foreign relations with all countries, including neighbours; ensuring good governance, transparency and accountability; addressing discrimination through legal, institutional and social measures; eradicating corruption; and safeguarding women’s dignity and rights.

“Islam provides the most effective framework for women’s employment, rights, dignity and freedom,” Mufti Rezaul said, adding that all the measures in this regard would be taken in line with the thousand-year-old beliefs, values and traditions of the land.

On state reform, the party said it would uphold the spirit of the Liberation War and the July uprising, introduce a proportional representation (PR) system in national elections, ensure a balance of power, establish a service-oriented, skilled and honest bureaucracy, and build a self-reliant, multidimensional state defence system.

Among its 28-point development agenda, IAB pledged to turn Bangladesh into an investment haven for foreigners, decide on LDC graduation within a short time, ensure citizen services in both cities and villages, coordinate between the Qawmi and general education systems, promote smart agriculture, provide seeds, fertiliser and pesticides at affordable rates, introduce universal health facilities with free services for at least 20 percent of the population, and eliminate the broker-led system for labour workers by introducing a G2G mechanism.

The party also outlined region-specific plans for the Chattogram Hill Tracts, Rangpur and Barind regions, the Khulna-Barishal belt and haor areas. It pledged to evict all river grabbers and ensure the safety of water reservoirs.

For the Chattogram Hill Tracts, an inclusive policy will be taken, considering security, development, tourism and economic perspectives, while preserving the distinct identity of the hill communities, the IAB chief said.