Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Constitution

Bangladesh Nationalist Party

01

The Name of Party

The name of this party will be 'Bangladesh Jatiyotabadi Dal'. In English, this organization will be called 'Bangladesh Nationalist Party' (BNP) and in short this party will be called 'Nationalist Party' and 'BNP'. The national office and central headquarters of this party is located in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. and the organization of the headquarters or central office of the party shall be under the responsibility of the chairman and the titles, responsibilities and powers of the various officers of the office shall be determined by the chairman himself.

02

Objectives and Goals

    The aim and objectives of the Bangladesh Jatiyotabadi Dal- BNP are stated in it's proclamation elaborately. In a brief, the aim and objectives of this party are stated below:

  • Point 1

    To fortify and strengthen independence, sovereignty, security, state integration and democracy of Bangladesh through strong mass unity based on Bangladeshi nationalism.

  • Point 2

    To protect Bangladesh from colonialism, expansionism, new-colonialism, authoritarianism and attack of external forces through economic solvency of the united and revived nation.

  • Point 3

    To acquire pro-people economic development and national progress based on social justice through politics of production, free market economy and people’s democracy.

  • Point 4

    To create such a healthy environment where democracy will reach the mind of the common people.

  • Point 5

    To ensure such a clear and stable social and political system through which the people themselves can bring their humanitarian, social and economic development.

  • Point 6

    To establish stable democracy through parliamentary democratic government elected by direct vote of the people based on multi-party politics and bring equitable national progress and development.

  • Point 7

    To set up Jatiya Sangsad as the epitome of democratic life and democratic values and preserve the fundamental rights of the people.

  • Point 8

    To create public opinion against activities of underground political organizations and formation of any armed cadres, parties or agencies.

  • Point 9

    To revive the pro-people social values in the national life and bring productive and creative spirit of life back.

  • Point 10

    To establish equitable economy based on justice in national life through realistic, effective development process so that all the Bangladeshi citizens get the chance of fulfilling their minimum demands of food, cloth, habitation and education.

  • Point 11

    To give priority on the programmers of complete village development and ensure happiness-peace and progress of rural areas of the country through active mass efforts.

  • Point 12

    To make proper and realistic utilization of all manpower including women and youth.

  • Point 13

    To take realistic economic plan and set up well balanced labour management and ensure maximum production in industrial sector through well labour policy.

  • Point 14

    To preserve, develop and improve Bangla language and literature and culture and sports of Bangladesh.

  • Point 15

    To preserve the age old human values of the Bangladeshi people through the teaching of Islam—religion of the majority of Bangladeshi people—and other religions, expansion of education for the backward people and giving them more facilities and chance to take part in greater national life.

  • Point 16

    To protect and establish international friendship, amity and equality in foreign policy based on non-alignment. To fortify and strengthen relationship and friendship with neighboring countries, friendly countries of the third world and friendly Muslim countries based on sovereignty and equality.



03

Party Flag

The upper half of the team's flag will be red and the lower half will be green. In the center of the flag there will be a black industrial circle. From the point of this circle at the junction of red and green, a row of golden rice grains will extend upwards. Above the rice grain will be a white star. Green is the symbol of the country; Red is the symbol of freedom war and sacrifice, industrial cycle is the symbol of growth and progress, grain of rice is the symbol of determination to achieve self-sufficiency in food and the white star is the symbol of our national hopes and aspirations.




04

Word Meanings:

  • Point 1

    ‘Ward’, ‘Union’, ‘Upazila/Thana’, ‘Pouroshova’, ‘Mahanagar’ — the meanings of these words will be as given by the Bangladesh government or election commission.

  • Point 2

    ‘Constitution’ will mean the constitution of the party if not irrelevant.

  • Point 3

    ‘Zilla’ will mean administrative district unless indicated otherwise in the party constitution.

  • Point 4

    The word ‘Chairman’ sometimes will also mean ‘Chairperson’.

  • Point 5

    The word ‘Dal’ will mean ‘Bangladesh Jatiyotabadi Dal’.

    • ‘Member’--- will mean primary member of the party if it is not used in the case of ‘committee’.



05

Membership

(a) Qualification for Membership

  • Point 1

    Any Bangladeshi citizen of the age of 18 years or above can be a primary member of this party. The aspirants have to declare adherence to the party’s proclamation, constitution and programmes.

  • Point 2

    The application at Schedule 1, Form ‘Ka’ of the constitution will be filled up for primary membership. This form will be available at the party office. No other form will be accepted for membership but when not available, printing of the same form will be allowed for application of membership.

  • Point 3

    If the form is accepted for consideration, identification (Schedule 1, Form ‘Kha’) will have to be collected as evidence.

  • Point 4

    Subscription fee is Tk 10 only for primary membership. Annual subscription fee after getting membership is Tk 10 only. The subscription from the members will be taken by receipt and the receipt will be provided from the party’s central office.

  • Point 5

    Members of the National Standing Committee and the Advisory Council of Chairperson of the Party and the monthly subscription rates of the officers and members of the National Executive Committee shall be determined by the Chairperson of the Party.

  • Point 6

    The rate of monthly subscription of officers and executive members of the district committee from Union Ward Committee of the party shall be as follows:



    Officer Union Ward Union & Municipality Ward Upazila/Thana/Municipality City District
    President 50/- 100/- 200/- 400/- 500/-
    Vice - President 40/- 50/- 100/- 200/- 300/-
    General Secretary 50/- 100/- 200/- 400/- 500/-
    Joint-General Secretary 40/- 50/- 100/- 200/- 300/-
    Secretaries 30/- 40/- 50/- 150/- 200/-
    Joint Secretaries 20/- 30/- 40/- 100/- 100/-
    Executive Members 10/- 20/- 30/- 40/- 50/-


    Any officer/member can voluntarily pay higher amount.

    Considering the lack of capacity of an officer/member, the concerned committee can waive or reduce the amount of subscription based on the application of that officer/member.

  • Point 7

    Leaders at various levels who are supposed to pay monthly subscriptions according to the rules of the party - 6 (six) months respectively and those who are supposed to pay annual subscriptions according to the constitution of the party for 2 (two) years respectively, their membership will be suspended. Membership of Monthly Subscribers shall be canceled if they fail to pay their subscription for 1 (one) year consecutively and Annual Subscribers fail to pay their subscription for 3 (three) years consecutively. If due to unavoidable reasons someone is unable to pay the subscription on time, it can be considered if an application is made to the concerned committee chairman/president and general secretary/general secretary for subscription waiver or late payment. In this regard, the National Standing Committee will formulate the necessary rules according to the constitution of the party.

  • Point 7

    Every Upazila/Thana Office shall maintain the list of every primary member post in their respective areas. The total number of members of the party, along with the names and addresses of the members will be legally preserved in the national headquarters i.e. the central office of the party in Dhaka.



(b) Disqualification for Membership

  • Point 1

    Any person who does not have legal Bangladeshi citizenship cannot be member of Jatiyotabadi Dal.

  • Point 2

    Those who are against the independence, sovereignty and integrity of Bangladesh, believe in underground politics, involved in any anti-social and anti-people activities will not get the party’s membership.



(c) Disciplinary Action Against Member:

The standing committee of the party can cancel or temporarily suspend membership or take any punitive measures against anyone on charge of misconduct or breaching disciplines or involvement of anti-party activities. It can withdraw penalty taken earlier. The party chairman on emergency can take any punitive measures against any member of the party and also withdraw action taken earlier in case meeting of the standing committee can not be called.

But all cases will be approved at the meeting of the standing committee as soon as possible. The chairman or the standing committee can seek explanation from the accused if necessary through personal hearing before taking punitive measures. In that case, a notice through post or by hand will have to be issued. The aggrieved person may appeal to Chairman against the penalty but the decision of the Chairman will be considered as final.



(d) Resignation from Membership:

  • Point 1

    Any member of the party may resign through a letter addressed to the chairman.

  • Point 2

    Any member of parliament (MP) nominated by the party will be considered to have resigned if he or she in the House will change his or her seat without prior permission of leader of the parliamentary party or will make alliance with another party or does any act which goes against the position of party in parliament.



06

Organizational Principles and Structure

    a)

    Nationalist Party will be organized from the primary level of the country at the Union and Pouroshova/City corporation ward level and expand to the national level. The organizational structure of the team will be as follows:

  • Point 1

    Union Ward Council and Union Ward Executive Committee

  • Point 2

    Pouroshova/Metropolitan, Ward Council and Pouroshova/Metropolitan, Ward Executive Committee

  • Point 3

    Union Council and Union Executive Committee

  • Point 4

    Upazila/Thana Council and Upazila/Thana Executive Committee

  • Point 5

    Pouroshova Council and Pouroshova Executive Committee

  • Point 6

    Metropolitan Council and Metropolitan Executive Committee

  • Point 7

    Zilla Council and Zilla Executive Committee

  • Point 8

    National Council

  • Point 9

    National Standing Committee

  • Point 10

    National Executive Committee

  • Point 11

    Parliamentary Board

  • Point 12

    Parliamentary Party

  • Point 13

    Organizations abroad

    b) Structure of Organizational Structure

    In all committees from Ward to Metropolitan, the respective Councils shall elect a President, a prescribed number of Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, a Deputy Treasurer and a prescribed number of Secretary, Joint Secretary and members. The number of women in committees at all levels of the party shall be at least 10% and this number shall be increased gradually.

    1) Union Ward Council and Union Ward Executive Committee:

    Party councils will be formed with minimum 100 primary members in each union ward. The council will elect a union ward executive committee of less than 51 members from among the members of the council for a period of two years. The Union Ward Committee shall consist of the following officers and members:

    Union Ward Executive Committee

  • Point 1

    President (1 person)

  • Point 2

    Vice President (3 persons)

  • Point 3

    General Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 4

    Joint Secretary (2 persons)

  • Point 5

    Treasurer (1 person)

  • Point 6

    Organizing Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 7

    Deputy Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 8

    Publicity Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 9

    Liberation War Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 10

    Women Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 11

    Agriculture Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 12

    Youth Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 13

    Student Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 14

    Mass Education Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 15

    Labor Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 16

    Volunteer Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 17

    Village Government Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 18

    Health and Family Welfare Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 19

    Relief and Rehabilitation Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 20

    Secretary, Microcredit and Cooperative Affairs (1 person)

  • Point 21

    Sports and Cultural Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 22

    Assistant Treasurer (1 person)

  • Point 23

    Assistant Organizing Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 24

    Assistant Secretary, Women's Affairs (1 person)

  • Point 25

    Executive Members (24 people)

    • A Total Number of 51

    The executive committee of the union will approve this committee.

    2) Pouroshova/Metropolitan Ward Council and Pouroshova/Metropolitan Ward Executive Committee

    A Pouroshova/metropolitan ward council of the party shall be constituted with a minimum of 150 primary members in each ward belonging to each municipality/metropolis. The Council shall elect a Pouroshova/Metropolitan Ward Executive Committee of not less than 71 members from among the members of the Council for a period of two years. This committee will get the status of union executive committee of the party. The Pouroshova/Metropolitan Ward Executive Committee will be constituted consisting of the following officers and members.

    Pouroshova/Metropolitan Ward Council and Pouroshova/Metropolitan Ward Executive Committee

  • Point 1

    President (1 person)

  • Point 2

    Vice President (5 persons)

  • Point 3

    General Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 4

    Joint Secretary (3 persons)

  • Point 5

    Treasurer (1 person)

  • Point 6

    Organizing Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 7

    Deputy Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 8

    Publicity Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 9

    Liberation War Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 10

    Women Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 11

    Agriculture Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 12

    Youth Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 13

    Student Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 14

    Labor Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 15

    Volunteer Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 16

    Health and Family Welfare Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 17

    Relief and Rehabilitation Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 18

    Microcredit and Cooperative Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 19

    Sports and Cultural Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 20

    Mass Education Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 21

    Local Government Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 22

    Religion Affairs Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 23

    Assistant Treasurer (1 person)

  • Point 24

    Assistant Organizing Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 25

    Assistant Deputy Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 26

    Assistant Publicity Secretary (1 person)

  • Point 27

    Assistant Secretary, Liberation War Affairs (1 person)

  • Point 28

    Assistant Secretary, Women's Affairs (1 person)

  • Point 29

    Assistant Secretary, Youth Affairs (1 person)

  • Point 30

    Assistant Secretary, Volunteer Affairs (1 person)

  • Point 31

    Assistant Secretary, Student Affairs (1 person)

  • Point 32

    Executive Members (34 people)

    • A Total Number of 71 People

    Pouroshova/Metropolitan Executive Committee will approve this committee.



07

Service Delivery

  • Point 1

    People do not get due benefit of public services due to corruption, negligence of duty, lack of feeling for the people, social discrimination, lack of accountability, lack of public awareness, and above all due to absence of people’s participation in the production and distribution of services. The quality of services provided by state and statutory bodies, including power supply, supply of drinking water, sewage services, maintenance of environmental quality, police service, judicial service, health service and administrative services shall be gradually improved through bold strides.

  • Point 2

    The problems of service providing systems like power supply, drinking water, sewage and conservancy, police-judicial-health- administrative services by the public and statutory bodies will be identified and solved fast.



08

Social Safety Network

  • Point 1

    Social safety network shall be expanded further for the survival of the disadvantaged and ultra-poor people irrespective of caste, creed and religion till the end of their povertyso that no poor and distressed person shall remain outside the purview of social safety network. Per capita allocation in this regard will be increased in keeping with inflation. In order to ensure food security for very low income people, Government Rationing system shall be introduced.

  • Point 2

    The amount of allowance for the distressed widow, women abandoned by their husbands and the helpless old will be increased in keeping with the rate of inflation. The distribution of special type of allowances will be made free of corruption and flawless.

  • Point 3

    A “Pension Fund” will be created to ameliorate the sufferings of old people who had been engaged in private sector jobs. This fund will be created out of a specific percentage of the income of such persons so that it comes for the use of reducing distress and sufferings in the old age. The contributors to this fund will be given a just rate of profit. One can contribute to this fund since the beginning till the end of one’s working life. Those who will contribute to this fund will be given loan out of this fund on the basis of relevant rules and regulations.This pension fund money may be invested for economic development and infrastructure building.

  • Point 4

    A mapping of the areas affected by poverty, distress, and lack of education, health facilities and infrastructural benefits will be made through an intensive survey of the grass root areas. Short term material assistance will be given to the ultra-poor of these areas to give them an opportunity for survival. In medium and long term, sustainable employment opportunities will be created in these areas through development of education, health, and physical infrastructure so that in future they need not be dependent upon any charitable grants. The old-age people, the disabled, and those lacking earning member in the family will be uninterruptedly brought within the safety net. In every such village, people deserving the benefits of safety net will be identified through a committee of local government members and respected citizens through holding discussion in an open meeting to ensure transparency.

  • Point 5

    A regulation will be made enabling the disabled to travel by bus – train - launch for free.



09

Liberation War & Freedom Fighters

  • Point 1

    Though unfortunate, the freedom fighters could not be given due status during different regimes after the independence.

  • Point 2

    BNP shall declare every freedom fighter an“honoured citizen of the state”.

  • Point 3

    Corruption will be brought to an end in the name of making list of freedom fighters. BNP will make a correct list of freedom fighters through a transparent process.

  • Point 4

    The allowance given to the freedom fighters will be in consonance with inflation rate. The system of distribution of this allowance will be made corruption free and flawless.

  • Point 5

    Freedom fighters desirous of investment will be encouraged and will be given total cooperation. Priority will be given to efficient freedom fighters in managing Freedom Fighter Welfare Trust and business and industrial enterprises for the welfare of freedom fighters.

  • Point 6

    To keep the memory of freedom struggle alive, the killing fields and mass graves distributed over different spots of the country shall be identified, and memorial monuments will be constructed.

  • Point 7

    It is a matter of regret that the way the freedom fighters are evaluated at the state level, the martyrs of freedom struggle are not. BNP shall prepare a correct list of martyrs of freedom struggle through an intensive survey at the behest of the state and they shall be given due honour and state recognition. The allowance given to the families of martyr freedom fighters will be increased in keeping with the rate of inflation. A law shall be made to allow the freedom fighters to travel by bus, train, and launch at half the rate of fare so fixed.



10

Economy

  • Point 1

    Economic inequality is getting exacerbated in Bangladesh over time. This state of affairs is not at all desirable in the interest of national unity and stability. BNP is committed to poor-friendly and egalitarian economic growth. BNP shall tackle the twin problem of poverty and rich-poor inequality through accelerating growth rate and through even distribution of its benefits.

  • Point 2

    BNP wants to transform Bangladesh by 2030 into a modern and democratic high-middle-income country. Within this period, per capita income shall be upgraded to $5000. In order to achieve this goal BNP shall adopt creative and intelligent initiative toboost annual growth rate to a double digit figure.

  • Point 3

    Establishment of manufacturing industry in Bangladesh is very costly due to scarcity of land. Given this harsh reality, BNP will go for economic use of limited land resources to set up industries and will also adopt a development strategy of least-land-intensive modern service industries like bank, insurance and financial service, hotel-restaurant, IT industry, amusement industry, tourism, transportation, telecommunication, distance-learning, air-hub, water-hub, security services, ports and shipping, tele-medicine etc.

  • Point 3

    The power and supervisory role of the central bank shall be upgraded to ensure discipline in the financial sector of the country. In the backdrop of share market and bank plundering, capable, honest and efficient persons shall be appointed in the Security and Exchange Commission and in the board of directors of nationalized banks to stop furthercorruption in these sectors.Political interference in the functioning of the financial institutions shall be put to an end. Shedding partisan and parochial considerations, the members of the board of directors and other executives of the public and private banks shall be appointed on the basis of competence, honesty and efficiency. Banking division in the Ministry of Finance shall be abolished, and the task of monitoring the nationalized banks shall vest with the Central Bank.



11

Research & Development (R&D)

Research and Development – R&D plays a very important role in any modern and developing country. Any private initiative that does not go for development of new types of products and production process cannot survive through competition. The enterprises where R&D plays a special role will be given state incentive for spending at least 3% of their annual revenue for R&D. Skilled engineers, industrial scientists and researchers are needed for R&D. Investment in the R&D sector is uncertain and risky. This is why it should be given state facilitation. BNP will prepare Annual Budgets helpful for R&D in the private sector. Encouragement will be given to build bridges among universities, research bodies, and business enterprises. For the development of R&D fundamental and applied research shall be encouraged. Measures shall be taken to patent new products and production process developed through R&D. BNP believes that the world has entered into the stage of knowledge based economy in the 21st century. BNP wants to move forward through this process of world development side by side.




12

Demographic Dividend

  • Point 1

    Bangladesh is passing through a demographic transition. At the moment 63.25% of Bangladesh population falls within the age bracket of 15-64. Therefore the biggest proportion of Bangladesh population falls in the group of active population. It has significance for economic development. A country where the proportion of children, juveniles and old age people is lower can accelerate the pace of economic development through utilizing the active population. However, such opportunity comes only once in a nations life. Both the children and the old age people are dependent on the income earned by the active people. Under such a situation, higher proportion of active population contributes towards accelerated and higher economic growth. Active population includes both woman and man. South Korea could take advantage out of demographic transition and has become a developed state. On the other hand despite being wealthy, Nigeria could not take advantage of this situation, and therefore mired in poverty.

  • Point 2

    According to a projection of the Asian Development Bank, the size of active population of Bangladesh in 2025 will be 78 million. In 2010 it was 56.7 million. In 2010, 2/3rd of the active population was minimally literate and only 4% got some form of training. Different estimationsreveal that every year 2.2 million persons enter into the job market in Bangladesh. Out of which only 1 million gets job. The rest remains unemployed.

  • Point 3

    To avail the opportunity of demographic dividend, employment has to be created for all active persons. This is a huge task. In order to achieve this goal, the national savings rate has to be increased to 40%. This saving has to be invested in totality. A portion of the investment will be used for required human resource development. The other potion has to be used for the fast development of agriculture, industry, and service sectors.

  • Point 4

    To achieve the goal of human resource development, change has to be brought in the mindset of the people. The youths of the country has to be freed from non-technical ‘Diploma Disease’. Diversity in the field of education has to be brought in consonance with taste, ability, merit, and market demand. Training program has to be introduced for professional and technical education, engineering education, medical education, science education, and different research areas of fundamental and applied scientific research, hundreds of trade and occupation (for example – plumber, fitter, electrician, electronic mechanic, health technician, nurses, master tailors, fashion designers, agricultural equipment mechanic, lathe-operator, mechanics for garments machineries and their maintenance, mechanics and engineers for industrial machineries, hospitality service, housekeeping, furniture designing, art and craft work, masonry, rod binder, land surveyor, rail workshop technicians, mechanics for vehicle, motor driving, printing technologies, and technicians for repairing mobile telephone and computers). This presupposes quality primary and secondary education. Parallely, at every stage of education and training, the quality of the teachers has to be improved. If necessary Bangladeshi scientists, engineers, and professors working abroad are to be utilized. Necessary number of institutions for trade and vocational education and certification are to be developed. To develop human resources, both the government and private sectors have to be utilized efficiently. Instructors and trainers of technical and vocational institutes have to be given special economic and other benefits, so that these institutions become effective. The banks and financial institutions have to be encouraged to spend for human resource development a larger slice of the money they use for corporate social responsibility. The main strategy during demographic transition period will be to create efficient human resources through enhancing savings and investments and to create attractive job market through investment in them. It will be necessary to create a bridge between education, research, training institutions, and business firms. Human resource has to be developed through advanced knowledge, technology, information technology, and education, and create jobs for the human resources so developed. There has to be a balance among tacit knowledge, applied knowledge, theoretical knowledge, applied and theoretical research, and such other knowledge creation activities. If we want to make Bangladesh a developed and dignified nation, there is no other alternative to achieve demographic dividend. Attaining demographic dividend is one of the priorities of BNP.

  • Point 5

    According to human development index–HDI 2016 of the United Nations, Bangladesh ranks 139th position among 188 countries. This indicates that Bangladesh has not yet been able to achieve high index of human development and could not take effective steps for achieving the demographic dividend. BNP shall adopt planned and effective steps for attaining High Human Development Index within 2030.



13

Education & Human Resource

  • Point 1

    There is no alternative to education, diffusion of technology and human resource development in a resource poor and densely populated country like Bangladesh. Education shall be vocation-centered and linked with the needs of daily life. BNP wants to improve the quality of education at every level and overcome backwardness in science-education. Education is not a monopoly of the rich. BNP shall ensure quality education for all, irrespective of rich and poor. BNP shall take the opportunity for education to the door steps of the people of backward areas.

  • Point 2

    BNP shall eradicate illiteracy within a decade.

  • Point 3

    5% of the GDP shall be spent in the education sector.

  • Point 4

    Higher education in Bangladesh will be enriched through knowledge intensity, science and technology. Emphasis will be given on discipline based education, training and research. A world-class university will be established.

  • Point 5

    A dedicated education channel in the national TV shall be installed for extension of education and its quality development.

  • Point 6

    In order to connect Bangladesh with the world of merit and the international labor market emphasis will be placed upon learning Bangla, and English and other foreign languages like Korean, Chinese, Japanese, German, Arabic, French, Spanish, etc. In order to cater for language skills, training activities shall be intensified. In order to achieve this goal, more foreign language institutes will be established under government initiative and the private sector shall be encouraged to establish foreign language institutes through incentives. These institutes will be subjected to regulatory mechanism.

  • Point 7

    A special fund shall be created for providing scholarship to the meritorious students to enable them to achieve highest degree in their field of study from renowned foreign universities.

  • Point 8

    Free tuition benefits shall be provided up to degree and equivalent level for both girls and boys. Education stipend program shall be expanded for both boys and girls.

  • Point 9

    BNP’s education policy will be life-oriented, and not degree-oriented. In Bangladesh, huge number of foreigners have been employed in business and industrial organizations due to inadequacy of specialized human resource like managers, business administrators and technical hands. They send huge remittance to their respective countries affecting Bangladesh economy. We have to create necessary skilled human resource in our own country to overcome this inadequacy. With this aim in view, BNP shall rapidly train up our unskilled labour force by introducing effective training courses and cater for their employment. This will strengthen our economy by stopping drainage of foreign currency. BNP shall take all administrative and institutional measures to create job oriented skilled human resource by arranging demand based vocational and technical training and necessary training in foreign language for the unskilled workers.

  • Point 10

    Social, cultural, gender and economic obstacles shall be removed to create equal opportunity for education at all levels.

  • Point 11

    Opportunities for special education will be ensured for the physically, mentally and emotionally impaired by ensuring appointment of trained teachers and introduction of special education system with adequate teaching-aids.

  • Point 12

    Election to student bodies will be ensured in all universities including Dhaka Universityand other higher education institutions to enable create future leaders from among the students.

  • Point 13

    Necessary effective measures shall be taken for quality development of primary and secondary education. The pay and allowances of the primary and secondary teaches shall be regularly increased in consonance with the prices of essentials to enhance their living standard.

  • Point 14

    Madrasa education will be further modernized to fit in with the day. Various professional and vocational subjects shall be included in their curriculum. This will include science and technology, IT and different languages including English alongside religious education. This will be done so that the Madrasa educated persons do not lag behind in productive activities and in case of employment, other professions and in availing opportunity to get admitted for higher education. It is to be noted that BNP during its last regime had declared ‘DawarayeHaidith’ offered by Kaomi madrasas equivalent to Masters-level.



14

Information & Communication Technology (ICT)

  • Point 1

    Though the present government talks big about the ICT Sector, the real picture in not that bright. ITU Report 2016 informs us that Bangladesh ranks 145th among 175 countries in ICT sector, lagging behind Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan. BNP will give priority to ICT sector and will take effective measures to enable Bangladesh march along with the rest of the world. Human resource in ICT will be excelled.

  • Point 2

    ICT sector shall be transformed into the highest foreign currency earner by 2030 in keeping with the service-driven economic strategy. Outsourcing and software development shall be encouraged. All irrational obstacles on the repatriation of foreign currency earnings from ICT sector shall be removed. All global payment gateway facilities will be allowed at minimal charge.

  • Point 3

    Consistent policy and strategy shall be adopted for content creation and publication.

  • Point 4

    NTTN, ISP, and IIG shall be opened up leading to more competition, enhanced efficiency, and lowering the internet cost.

  • Point 5

    VOIP will be opened up. This will ease up and reduce communication cost with the rest of the world. Business using internet and the people in general will gain in efficiency and productivity. A great leap forward will be realized in exports, domestic market oriented industries, e-commerce, and ICT sector in general including outsourcing. There shall be employment creation, skill development, and a boost for government revenue. The corruption ruling roost in VOIP sector will be arrested.

  • Point 6

    Optimum use of ICT will be ensured in any sector that demands its use, such as administration, judiciary, education, health, commerce, communication, agriculture, and research. A specific and clear policy-package shall be adopted towards this end.

  • Point 7

    A national award will be introduced in recognition of extra ordinary contribution in ICT. National ICT award shall be declared for the best school, the best college, the best teacher, and the best freelancer.

  • Point 8

    Foreign investment in ICT sector shall be eased. To ensure foreign investment and domestic and foreign initiative in the ICT sector, appropriate institutional arrangement and different types of incentives shall be provided. In order to make maximum use of IT Innovation Fund, different creative and coordinated plan shall be implemented by 2030. Meritorious youths and interested entrepreneurs working in software industry and IT service sector shall be given all-out assistance. A consultancy organization will be built up to enable innovation capacity of the new entrepreneurs and its application. In the appropriate field, entrepreneurs who are financially insolvent will be given financial incentives at low rate of interest through expandingthestartup-fund.It will be encouraged to create Mutual Fund and Venture Capital for ICT industry through the capital market.

  • Point 9

    Very high speed internet will be ensured in keeping with time through developing internet infrastructure so that mobile data can be transferred within shortest possible time and broadband will be provided at low cost.

  • Point 10

    Multiple links will be established with submarine cable to enhance capacity of bandwidth and uninterrupted internet connectivity will be ensured.

  • Point 11

    High speed 4G coverage will be ensured for the whole country, especially for the rural areas through the mobile companies. In correspondence with international development, 4G or higher speed internet coverage will be ensured in future.

  • Point 12

    Different types of incentives will be given to software and hardware industries. Domestic production of different components of internet such as smartphone, laptop, etc. will be encouraged. Zero tariff rate shall continue for all items used in ICT.

  • Point 13

    Modern ICT infrastructure will be built up through providing uninterrupted, stable, and quality electricity and IT Parks, both public and private, in different areas of the country including Kaliakoir. Software Technology Park, Hi tech Park, Education Park, Computer Village and IT incubator will be established to enhance opportunities for knowledge development and employment home and abroad. High capacity Data Centers will be established through public and private initiative.

  • Point 14

    Computer aided learning will be introduced up to HSC level. At this stage, computer programming education will also be introduced. Huge number of well trained teachers will be appointed to achieve the goal.

  • Point 15

    A ‘Smart School’ will be established in every district so that these schools serve the purpose of model technology demonstrator.

  • Point 16

    Computer training institutes for training of the computer teachers will be established in every district.

  • Point 17

    IT institutes will be established in different tiers under the local government. IT sector shall be encouraged by providing scholarship to the students. More developed IT education system will be established through providing adequate teachers, hardware and laboratory facilities by 2020 at the secondary level, and by 2025 at the primary level. Skill development course shall be introduced along with general education in every school and college.All educational institution and public-placesshall be brought within free and safe internet Wi-Fi zone.

  • Point 18

    BNP shall remove all obstacles blocking free speech, and freedom of thought of the people. Undemocratic sections of laws relating to ICT and social media (Cyber Security Act, ICT Act, etc.)shall be amended.

  • Point 19

    BNP shall produce an appropriate and well-timed policy to fix-up specific responsibility of electrical and electronic goods producers, importers, sellers, and buyers to protect the country from the hazards of e-waste. An appropriate collection and management system for e-waste will be developed.

  • Point 20

    ICT will be BNP’s thrust sector.