Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Awami League (AL), presented the party’s election manifesto, focusing on the vision of “Smart Bangladesh.”
The announcement took place at the AL manifesto program held on December 27, 2023, at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital. Sheikh Hasina emphasized the party’s commitment to building a modern, technology-oriented nation, outlining key priorities, including a Universal Health System and a balanced approach to import and export trade.
Addressing the gathering, Sheikh Hasina reflected on AL’s past achievements, mentioning the successful implementation of Vision 2021 outlined in the 2008 election manifesto. She underscored the importance of balanced import and export trade to ensure stability in foreign exchange supply, advocating for stringent measures to recover defaulted loans.
The Prime Minister highlighted the significance of policy interest rates in controlling money supply and inflation, expressing the party’s commitment to extending credit for self-employment opportunities for trained youth. Sheikh Hasina unveiled the pillars of “Smart Bangladesh” – Smart Citizens, Smart Government, Smart Economy, and Smart Society – essential for global competition in the fourth industrial revolution era.
In a bid to eradicate hunger and poverty, Sheikh Hasina pledged to transform Bangladesh into a smart, developed country by 2041. The healthcare sector’s modernization featured prominently in the manifesto, with plans for a Universal Health System, digital healthcare initiatives, and the establishment of international-standard specialized hospitals.
The manifesto emphasized advancements in basic health and family welfare services, continuation of free primary healthcare and medicine distribution through community clinics, and the introduction of health IDs for every citizen. Sheikh Hasina also announced support for the country’s Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) industry, controlled antibiotic use, and improved mental health and autism healthcare facilities.
AL’s manifesto aligns with Sheikh Hasina’s goals of achieving a developed nation status by 2041, building on the long-term action plans outlined in previous election manifestos. AL’s commitment to perfecting democracy and overcoming challenges was echoed by General Secretary Obaidul Quader, who highlighted Sheikh Hasina’s inspirational leadership and the party’s resilience in the face of conspiracies and terrorism.
In the upcoming election, AL’s manifesto will prioritize 11 key issues, including commodity price stability, youth education and employment, Smart Bangladesh initiatives, integrated agriculture systems, affordable healthcare, financial sector efficiency, universal pension, law enforcement accountability, and combating communalism, terrorism, and militancy.
