7. Economic development & initiative
a. Meeting basic needs:
With a view to providing food, clothing, shelter, education and health care to the citizens in accordance with Article 15 of the Constitution, gross domestic product will be raised to 8% by 2013 and 10% by 2021 which will be sustained thereafter.
b. Population and labour force:
Population in 2021 is estimated at 165m, and labour force at 105m. Programmes will be taken up for employment of at least 85% of the work force.
c. Alleviation of poverty:
We aim not at reduction of poverty, but removal of poverty, through which we shall try to achieve the Millennium Goals declared by UN by 2015, and by 2017 latest. Beginning in 2021, poverty will be reduced to 15% from 45% now, progressively. Number of poor people will rise from 45 million now to 65m in 2021, and then fall to 25m in 2021. Sustainable safety nets will be established for the extreme poor until poverty is removed.
d. Food & nutrition:
Food deficiency will be removed and self-reliance in food production achieved by 2012, which will enable us to meet the nutrition needs of 85% of the population.
e. Health care:
By 2021, a minimum daily intake of 2,122 kilo calories of food, elimination of contagious disease, primary health care and sanitation for all will be ensured. Average longevity will be increased to seventy years, and efforts will be made for the reduction of child and maternal mortality.
f. Education:
Enrollment at the primary level will be increased to 100% net by 2010. Elimination of illiteracy by 2014, improvement in the quality of education, creation of a generation educated in science and technology, graduation degree level education made free by 2013 and ensuring higher salary for teachers are the other educational goals.
g. Industry:
A strong foundation for industrialization will be established by 2021. Contribution of the industrial sector to national GDP will be doubled. Primacy will be given to agro and labour intensive industries and the highest emphasis will be given to the information technology sector. The investment policy will be geared to implementing a strategy for attracting both domestic and foreign investment.
h. Energy security:
An energy policy will be adopted tapping all sources of traditional and non-traditional energy to ensure an accelerated rate of economic development and industrialization. A three year crash programme will be taken up to meet the existing crisis. By 2015, electricity production will be increased to 8,000 megawatt. By 2021, demand for electricity is projected to increase to 20,000 megawatt. We will take all possible actions aiming at enhancing our generation capacity. To increase gas production, regular survey of gas resources and work on well development will be undertaken. To meet energy demand, efforts will be undertaken for regional energy security through mutual cooperation in addition to exploring internal sources.
i. Infrastructural development:
Road, rail, river and air transport and telecommunication systems will be expanded. Construction of bridges and tunnels for Padma and Karnaphuli rivers, connecting Bangladesh with the Asian highway and Asian railway, improvement of port facilities, building of a deep sea port to open up Bangladesh's ports to countries of Asia will be implemented. In Dhaka, construction of a metro tunnel, elevated rail and circular rail to remove traffic jams and to solve public transport problems will be studied forthwith in order to undertake a feasible project. The project will then be implemented on a priority basis.
j. Housing:
By 2015, housing for all will be ensured. In every union and upazila, ‘growth center’ centric village housing and in towns housing with modern amenities will be implemented.
k. Environment:
All measures will be taken to protect Bangladesh, including planned migration abroad, from the adverse effects of climate change and global warming. Facing natural calamities, planned reduction of air pollution, prevention of industry and transport related air pollution and disposal of waste in scientific manner will be ensured. Steps will be taken to make Bangladesh an ecologically attractive place through retention of forests and water bodies and prevention of river erosion.
l. Water resources:
Bangladesh Awami League will take the initiative to formulate a comprehensive regional water policy along with India, Nepal and Bhutan for regional water security. In addition, in keeping with comprehensive water policy, articulated earlier by Bangladesh Awami League, measures will be taken for development of our water resources and their rational use.