If the Jatiya Party forms the government, it wants to officially introduce unemployment benefits, establish the office at the upazila level of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Employment. In addition, the party's manifesto for the 12th JS elections has set a target of bringing down the population growth rate below 1 percent.
The 24-point manifesto has many sub-clauses. Most of the old promises have been joined with a few new ones, including the provision of permanent accommodation for 10 lakh people for the Biswa Ijtema. It has been said to establish an effective parliament by bringing all public representatives under decision-making by amending Article 70, except for budget and no-confidence motions.
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader has demanded the abolition of Article 70 in his speeches. He said in several meetings that democracy has been killed in the name of establishing a parliamentary system of government by amending the constitution after Hussain Muhammad Ershad handed over state power. The constitution has been amended in such a way that almost 99 percent of the country's executive, legislature and judiciary is in the hands of the head of government. It has established a dictatorship in the country which is contrary to democracy. We want the abolition of Article 70 of the Constitution.
Jatiya Party is going to officially announce the election manifesto on December 21. The party, which was in opposition seats in the last two parliaments, is contesting 265 seats in the twelfth parliamentary elections. Awami League gave them 26 seats.
According to JP's manifesto, unemployed graduates and post-graduates will be given government allowances until they find employment. Unemployed youth will be listed from ward level in every village and towns of the country. Areas of employment will be determined according to their qualifications.
Exploring the labor market abroad the main task of the Expatriate Welfare Ministry will be to find the labor market. An office of the Ministry of Employment will be established in every upazila. Jatiya Party wants to provide training to improve the skills of agricultural workers.
The electoral promises made before the last parliamentary elections have been left in the manifesto. It has announced the introduction of a two-tier parliament, provincial government, full-fledged upazila system and reform of the electoral system. It is proposed to divide the country into eight provinces. These are Rangpur Province, Barendra Province, Jahangirnagar Province, Jalalabad Province, Jahanabad Province, Chandradeep Province, Mainamati Province and Chattala Province.
The Jatiya Party wants to reform the election system and provide for the election of the JS on the basis of proportional voting. This old clause was brought forward by Hussain Muhammad Ershad. His statement was that each party will announce 300 candidates, not seat-based candidates. They will get seats in proportion to votes. In this way no one will try to steal votes to win any seat.
If the Jatiya Party comes to power, it will bring the court back to the upazila. Besides, full power will be given to the people's representatives. Industrialization is necessary to alleviate poverty and ensure employment, for this, it has been said to ensure gas supply throughout the country if the Jatiya Party comes to power.
Hussain Muhammad Ershad announced reservation of 30 seats for minorities in Jatiya Party tenth parliamentary election manifesto. This time, GM Quader has withdrawn from that promise. He said in Clause 16, the interests of religious minorities will be protected.
Efforts have been made to further consolidate Islamic ideals and religious values. It said it would set up an Islamic commission comprising eminent scholars and Islamic thinkers and intellectuals to advise the government.
For the development of sports, it is mandatory to have playgrounds in every educational institution. The Jatiya Party has backed away from its previous announcement of not allowing institutions without playgrounds, especially private universities to operate.
General Secretary of Jatiya Party Mujibul Haque Chunnu MP said that anti-Awami League votes are much more than Awami League. If the people can vote, the Jatiya Party will form the government by negative-vote.