Bangla main opposition alliance promises to safeguard rights of people if voted to power

Bangladesh's main opposition alliance unveiled its poll manifesto Monday, promising to safeguard the opinion and rights of people if it was voted to power in the December 30 general elections.

The National Unity Front (NUF), a political alliance of opposition parties including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of imprisoned former prime minister Khaleda Zia, promised to ensure "peoples' ownership".

"When the people no longer have control of the government, it is taken over by vested interests and various domestic and foreign groups... you have felt this in your bones," NUF convenor and eminent jurist Kamal Hossain said.

The NUF, in line with the constitutional principle, would not only ensure peoples' ownership over the government but also the stake of defeated parties in the governance process, he said.

"If we win the election and are given the responsibility, the Jatiya Oikya Front will govern for the welfare of all citizens. Our principles will be unity, integrity and lack of vengeance.

"The NUF government will safeguard the opinions and rights of those it defeats in the election as well," Hossain said.

Though the BNP is part of the NUF alliance, it will release its manifesto separately on Tuesday, the day Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League plans to unveil its manifesto.

The Awami League is focusing on new voters considering their stake in the voters list, a ruling party leader told PTI.

The BNP's manifesto will be released in the absence of Zia and her son Tarique Rahman, who has been termed as the party's "fugitive" acting chief.

Rahman, who lives in London, was given life imprisonment for masterminding a grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2005 in which 24 people were killed.

According to the election commission officials, around 100 million people are eligible to cast their votes in December 30 general elections.

Zia, 73, who is serving a 10-year jail sentence on corruption charges, has been barred from contesting the polls.