As different political parties participating in the 13th national parliamentary election reveal their manifestos, a new online platform has been introduced to showcase the election manifestos of major political parties that have contested parliamentary elections since 1991.
The platform also displays the manifestos that have already been released for the upcoming election scheduled for February 12. Named “Political Party Manifestos in Bangladesh’s Elections,” this initiative is part of a research project overseen by Professor Ali Riaz, who is currently working as the chief adviser’s special assistant, along with writer-researcher MM Musa.
Accessible through https://www.votemanifesto.com/, the website aims to assist researchers, journalists, and citizens in reviewing and analyzing the promises and policies presented by political parties in their election manifestos from elections held since 1991. It consolidates manifestos from various elections onto a single, user-friendly platform for easy access to information.
The project highlights that elections involve both political parties and independent candidates, with most parties issuing manifestos that outline their ideological stances and future plans alongside nominating candidates. The manifesto is described as a party’s commitment to voters and a benchmark for evaluating the actions of a party that ultimately forms the government.
Ali Riaz, a distinguished professor in the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University in the US and president of the American Institute of Bangladesh Studies (AIBS), currently serves as the chief adviser’s special assistant with adviser status. MM Musa, a writer and researcher who previously worked as a journalist, regularly contributes to various local media outlets on development issues and the challenges faced by marginalized communities.
