Locality-wise manifesto needed for easy execution of dev pledges: Speakers

Speakers at a dialogue in Khulna on Tuesday underscored the need for preparing locality-based manifestos by the political parties to easily implement the electoral pledges they make in those declarations.

Election manifesto is an important document in a democracy and that franchisers can decide who to vote by reading a manifesto.

The speakers said implementation of the electoral pledges will be easier if it is prepared by engaging local people.

Political parties make pledges through their election manifestos and those are very important for democratic countries as these are considered as written agreement between the political parties and the people, they said.

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) organised the dialogue in association with the UN Democracy Fund and Shujan where people from different classes and professions took part.

The Awami League had placed an election manifesto with a number of pledges ahead of the national elections held in 2018. Discussion on how many pledges have so far been executed, was held during the dialogue.

Taking part in the dialogue, Talukder Abdul Khaleque, the mayor of Khulna city, said the Awami League pledged in its election manifesto to turn the country into a digital one and everyone realised the importance of the matter during the pandemic of the coronavirus.

Everything does not happen overnight, it has to be implemented slowly and Bangladesh is marching forward with such a mission, he said.

Sheikh Harunur Rashid, president of Awami League Khulna district unit, cited development activities of the government and said that it has lit each house by providing electricity across the country. 

Badiul Alam Mojumdar, secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), said that the political parties will have to be held responsible for implementation of their election manifesto and at the same time people will have to be made aware about the manifesto.

Avro Bhattacharya, joint director of the Dialogue and Communication department of CPD, in his keynote paper, highlighted various aspects of Khulna metropolis.

Prior to this dialogue, open discussions were held at 90 places across the city where around 918 people were present, he said.

In his keynote presentation, he incorporated views and suggestions given by the people of the neighbourhoods regarding the election manifesto.

Mij Supta Bedanga, a writer, researcher and development worker, said the practice of discussion on election manifesto should include more constituents.

The atmosphere to ensure accountability will be created in the country if there is a culture of discussing election manifesto with the political parties.

Taking part in the dialogue, Advocate Parvin Ahmed, president of Bikoshito Nari Network in Bagerhat, said no one is out of politics and the people need to learn about the manifesto of all political parties.