Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami vows youth leadership, women inclusion in manifesto

DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami on Wednesday unveiled its election manifesto ahead of the country’s upcoming national parliamentary elections, setting out a detailed policy agenda centered on youth leadership, women’s participation, parliamentary reform and justice-based governance.

The 90-page document, titled People’s Manifesto and released under the slogan “A Safe and Humane Bangladesh,” identifies 26 priority areas that the party says will guide state governance over a five-year term if it is voted to power. 

Party leader Shafiqur Rahman presented the manifesto at an event in Dhaka attended by diplomats, political figures, journalists, business representatives and civil society members.

The manifesto frames state authority as an “amanah,” or sacred trust, delegated by citizens to their elected representatives through the electoral process, and argues that governance must be exercised with accountability, restraint and moral responsibility. 

It calls for fundamental reforms to Bangladesh’s political and administrative systems to establish what the party describes as a discrimination-free state guaranteeing equal rights for all citizens.

A major focus of the manifesto is the restructuring of political power, with proposals aimed at restoring parliament as the country’s primary decision-making institution. 

Jamaat says executive authority would no longer be concentrated in the office of the prime minister, with legislative authority returned to parliament as the supreme representative body. Under the manifesto, the principal role of lawmakers would be lawmaking, policy formulation and oversight of the executive.

The party has pledged to amend constitutional provisions that restrict lawmakers from voting independently, saying party discipline should not be used to prevent members of parliament from acting in what they consider to be the national interest. 

It also proposes expanding the role of opposition parties by nominating a deputy speaker from outside the ruling party and allocating leadership of parliamentary standing committees to opposition members at levels exceeding proportional representation. Open parliamentary debates on major treaties, international agreements and official state visits are also promised.

On governance and justice, the manifesto commits to strengthening law and order, eradicating corruption and ensuring accountability for abuses of power, including extrajudicial killings. 

Jamaat proposes establishing an independent accountability council that would require senior office-holders to submit regular progress reports and publicly explain key decisions, alongside existing oversight mechanisms for the prime minister and cabinet.

The party says it will review and repeal laws and policies that contain discriminatory provisions, pledging to ensure equal citizenship rights regardless of religion, ethnicity or social status. It also commits to addressing political extortion and coercion through strict enforcement of the law and collective social initiatives, while rejecting retaliatory politics and promoting engagement among political parties.

Youth empowerment features prominently in the manifesto, with the party pledging to prioritize young men and women in state leadership and appoint qualified youth to key cabinet and administrative positions. 

Economically, Jamaat outlines a strategy focused on self-reliance, merit-based recruitment and large-scale employment generation through industrial expansion, support for small and medium-sized enterprises and investment-friendly policies.

The manifesto sets out plans to train millions of young people in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, green technology and digital entrepreneurship, alongside the creation of nationwide technology hubs and incubation centers aimed at connecting youth to global markets. It also promises employment support for educated but unemployed individuals through skills-based assistance and interest-free financial mechanisms.

Women’s participation is presented as a core governance objective, with pledges to include a significant number of women in the cabinet and ensure safe and dignified working environments. 

The manifesto promises maternity-related workplace flexibility based on the mother’s consent and says governance institutions should reflect the country’s social diversity, including religious and ethnic communities and historically underrepresented groups.

Agricultural reform is identified as a key economic priority, with commitments to increase productivity, ensure fair prices for farmers and guarantee adulteration-free food. Environmental commitments include what the party describes as a “Three Zero Vision,” focused on preventing environmental degradation, waste and flood risk, alongside broader climate resilience and water management measures.

The manifesto also outlines plans for urban and regional development, including transforming major cities into planned metropolitan centers, improving public transport systems and reducing travel times between regions. 

On political culture, Jamaat says it seeks to foster a tolerant, consensus-based environment, promote service-oriented politics and strengthen democratic practices within political parties.

With the national election approaching, Jamaat-e-Islami’s manifesto presents a detailed policy platform that places institutional reform, youth leadership, women participation and ethical governance at the center of its electoral appeal.