Online Desk: 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.