Once again youth to be prioritised

* Importance is being given to the issues of commodity prices and anti-corruption
* Awami League is planning the manifesto according to the implementable plan

Likewise the previous election manifestos, the ruling Awami League is going to announce the new mandate for the upcoming 12th National Parliamentary Election keeping youth‍‍`s necessity in top-chart. 

According to the election schedule, polling will be held on January 7, 2024. The ruling Awami League is hopeful of bagging landslide victory for the fourth time in a row.

The manifesto is coming with the slogan ‍‍"Smart Bangladesh‍‍"

The ruling party Awami League has prepared the manifesto for the 12th national parliament election to transform digital Bangladesh into smart Bangladesh. This year‍‍`s manifesto is very different from other manifestos. The party issued a public notice seeking public opinion before making it. Therefore, this year‍‍`s manifesto is not only for the leaders of Awami League, but the general public has directly participated.

Issues that will be addressed in this year‍‍‍‍`s manifesto

Bangladesh Awami League has prepared a manifesto for the upcoming 12th National Parliamentary elections with emphasis on education, health, prevention of corruption, drug and commodity price control, good governance in the financial sector and agriculture with the determination to build a smart Bangladesh from digital Bangladesh. This time Awami League is going to bring a big change in the 12th National parliamentary election manifesto. Such major changes were seen in the 2008 election manifesto. 

Also, development of small, medium and large scale industries, planning with emphasis on agriculture and food processing industries, management and growth of production through agricultural mechanization and ensuring domestic and foreign investment in 100 economic zones including employment opportunities will be created. Completion of remaining projects  in road, sea, rail and air routes will be included in this manifesto. 

Convenor of the manifesto drafting committee, Dr. Abdur Razzak said, "About 30 percent of the country‍‍`s 170 million people are between the ages of 15 and 29. More than two crore educated youth are the strength and wealth of a country. We want to utilize this wealth to involve them in various initiatives."

"The first section will include priorities for implementing the promises made during the past election, such as agriculture, youth generation, drug eradication, and our specific initiatives and commitments. In addition to the pledge to develop good governance, the manifesto will address the subject of corruption prevention, as well as macroeconomics, poverty reduction, the financial system, and corruption prevention", he added. 

Awami League presidium member Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin said, "Awami League‍‍`s manifesto will have various election promises aimed at sustainable development and building a smart population. Along with the development of marginalized communities, there will also be plans to make the younger generation self-reliant."

The manifesto has the long term plan till 2041. Along with this, there is a goal to reduce foreign dependence. The target of achieving GDP is above 8 percent. The manifesto also promises to increase the metro rail network along with bullet trains to improve the communication sector.

Bangladesh Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim said the many megaprojects that are remaining will be completed.

According to Mohammad A. Arafat, a member of the Manifesto Drafting Committee, Smart Bangladesh will be established, with the goal of creating new jobs for youth and youth. The more paper that is consumed, the more the ecosystem suffers. A cashless society signifies a better society that is more transparent and reduces economic corruption.

According to experts, the manifesto is a blueprint to govern the country for the next five years if the party is elected, as well as a plan for what the party will do after winning the elections, which must be precise and clear.

How was the previous manifesto of Awami League

In 2008 the Awami League‍‍`s manifesto was "Charter for Change". The manifesto was given with the conviction of building a digital Bangladesh, which was quite different from the past manifestos. It outlined sector-wise digitization. Apart from this, the most important thing in this manifesto was the punishment of war criminals. Based on which the slogan "Don‍‍`t vote for war criminals" became very popular among young voters.

The slogan of Awami League‍‍`s ma\

nifesto in 2014 was "Bangladesh is moving forward". Meanwhile, the 2018 election manifesto was, "Bangladesh on the march of prosperity". In these two manifestos, besides highlighting the development and progress in building digital Bangladesh, promises were made as to what else will be done sector-wise.

On December 24, 2022, the 22nd National Conference of the ruling Awami League was held for the third consecutive term. It brought forward the slogan of building a smart Bangladesh. Since then, parliament members-ministers have been talking about transforming digital Bangladesh into smart Bangladesh in all sectors. 

Like every time, party president Sheikh Hasina will announce the manifesto. The party is going to publish the manifesto formulated on the occasion of the upcoming 12th National Parliament election in view of twelve crore voters of the country.