DHAKA, Dec 21, 2023 (BSS) - Jatiya Party (JaPa) today announced a 24-point 
election manifesto for the forthcoming January 7 parliamentary polls with a 
slogan "Change for Peace, Jatiya Party for Change".

The party's secretary general Mujibul Haque Chunnu declared the manifesto in 
a press conference at JaPa chairman's Banani office.

The manifesto includes introduction of provincial system, prevention of 
corruption and money laundering, creation of employment opportunity in 
current reality, decentralization, reaching judicial services at people's 
doorsteps, shifting 50 percent offices outside of the capital and controlling 
prices of essential commodities.

Describing the introduction of provincial system, Chunnu said if his party is 
voted to power, it will turn the eight divisions into eight provinces with 
the names Uttarbanga Province, Barind Province, Jahangirnagar Province, 
Jahanabad Province, Jalalabad Province, Chandradwip Province, Mainamati 
Province and Chattala Province.

Besides, there will be two-tier government system, the central government 
will be named as federal government having 300 seats Parliament and 
provincial government will run provincial assembly, he said.
Every upazila and thana will be considered as constituencies of provincial 
government. At least 50 percent headquarters will be shifted to provincial 
capitals from Dhaka, he said.

In the manifesto, JaPa pledged to reform the election system while local 
government system will be strengthened through introducing full-fledged 
upazila system having upazila court and family court.

The party pledged to turn the parliament as effective institution through 
amending Section 70 of the Constitution.

It also pledged to scrap The Special Powers Act.
 
Number of lower courts and judges will be increased while national commission 
will be formed on urgent basis to find out main reasons behind 
irregularities, corruption and backlog in judiciary.

It will expand technical and vocation education at district and upazila level 
extensively. A list of unemployed youth at village and town level will be 
prepared and sectors of employment should be fixed for unemployed youths.

If the party is voted to power, Health Policy will be formulated with setting 
the target of bringing down population growth rate below one percent and 
health services will be ensured for all.

Special emphasis will be laid on vocational education instead of general 
education.

Besides, JaPa pledged that it won't formulate any law that can be conflicting 
with the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

It will take strong stance against terrorism and drug abuse and build an 
agro-based industrial city.

Reserved post for women in government jobs will be increased in phases.