The document discusses the election manifesto slogans of different political parties ahead of Bangladesh's 11th parliamentary elections scheduled for December 30. It analyzes slogans such as the ruling Awami League's "Bangladesh on road to Prosperity" and opposition BNP's "All powers in the Republic belong to the people." The document argues that effective slogans appeal to voters' sentiments of nationalism and security and promote optimism for the future. It remains to be seen which slogans will most attract Bangladeshi voters on election day.

1. Election Manifesto Slogans:
It's people's discretion to choose the best
Ahasan Uddin Bhuiyan
Published in: https://www.observerbd.com/details.php?id=174356

2. Dozens of pages, tons of clauses and thousands of words of election manifestos
revealed by the political parties are mouth-watering for political critics to create
storm in a teacup and to debate in television talk show. But the mass, who will
determine the yesterday's legislatures blotching on secret ballot, whom those
carrots are being hung for, are hardly snooping for the detail manifesto. They
rather are being pondered by the one-sentence, the election slogan of the party that
goes with their requirements of the impending days.
The 11th parliamentary election of the country is scheduled to be held on
December 30. "An election is coming. Universal peace is declared, and the foxes
have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry," is a George Eliot's
saying on pre-election campaign. Nothing exceptional herein Bangladesh and all
leading political parties of the country brought their pungent manifestos to light
already.
The forthcoming election manifesto slogan of the ruling party Bangladesh Awami
League is 'Bangladesh on road to Prosperity'. The another major political party of
the land, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and their alliance Jatiya Oikyafront
(JO) picked the article 7(1) of the constitution as their manifesto slogan and that is
'All powers in the Republic belong to the people.' HM Ershad led Jatiya Party
focused on 'Good Governance and Development of the Nation' while "Vision-
Liberation War 71" is the jingle of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB).
The question is how far the slogans are rational and public oriented? Because,
before casting the vote or determining own preference to be governed, electors
seek for optimism and fresh approaches. Awami League came up with a great and
unique idea of 'Digital Bangladesh' as the keynote of their election manifesto in
2008, having the formal title 'A Charter for Change'. BNP on the contrary, cited
traditional political verse "Save the Country, Save the People." People grasped the
uniqueness. Same as they took off the fresh BPN ideas of rural development,
family planning and privatization in 1991 in the first post-Ershad era election.

3. The manifesto slogan washes people's 'brain' more than their 'eyes'. It can be
termed as the 'magic bullet' of political agenda, if explained with the
communication theory of Harold Lasswell. It is proven fact that people seek their
sentiments like nationalism, priority to religious practices they believe in,
individual and national securities etc. in their immediate next ruler's commitments.
Warren Harding, the 29th President of the United States said, 'I don't know much
about Americanism, but it's a damn good word with which to carry an election'.
Donald Trump utilized it better; he borrowed the concept of "Make America Great
Again" during 2016 presidential election campaign from Ronald Reagan to beat
Hillary Clinton with her "Stronger Together" watchword. Reagan's "Let's Make
America Great Again" also won US popular sentiment in 1980. Indian citizen
chosen Narendra Modi's 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' meaning "United India,
Great India" in 2014 on the similar sentimental ground.
Now, what Bangladeshi folks will pick from the manifestos given by the parties
ahead of the polls? Awami League's 'Bangladesh on road to Prosperity' also has
another surname 'My Village My City' means a holistic coverage explaining long
term agenda called 'Vision 2041'. The 'Vision 2041' aims at building 'Sonar
Bangla', the ultimate national sentiment of Bangladesh people. There have two
intermediary plans within 'Vision 2041' titled 'Progression to Mid-income Nation'
and 'Development Junction' to be implemented by 2021 and 2030 respectively.
BNP's 'All powers in the Republic belong to the people' labeling manifesto is
formed on the basis of their 'Vision 2030', which also has a lucrative heading to be
pronounced "Plan for a Rainbow Nation." The slogan is unique to Bangladeshi
people, of course. The plan pledges to good governance, balance of power, fight
against terrorism and fanaticism alongside the freedom for the mass media. Their
coalition Oikyafront emphasized on the national unity, modification of electoral
system and social security issues.

4. Jatiya Party's 18-point manifesto on 'Good Governance and Development of the
Nation' vows administrative decentralization, specially introduction of the
provincial government system and reforms to Election Commission. CPB in their
30-point manifesto highlighted equity and justice next to the four fundamental
principles of the constitution. Bangladesh thus, not so far from being a Wonder-
land.
Another significant aspect is the homophone of the slogans with previous edition
manifestos. BNP's "Save the Country, Save the People" of 2008 and "All powers in
the Republic belong to the people" for upcoming polls, sound homogeneous.
Awami League ascended throne twice in a row and marching for the third
consecutive period. They fated in the ballot revolt of 2008 since people ravened 'A
Charter for Change' chant. The party in power continues the previous agenda with
"Marching Ahead Bangladesh: Road to Peace, Democratic Development and
Prosperity" slogan for the 10th Parliamentary Election in 2014. Thus, 'Bangladesh
on road to Prosperity' is the farsighted disguise of the previous twin election
slogans.
The most possible reason of such homographs in the culture of adult franchise
basis voting practice is to fuel the flame of the popular sentiment that clicked
immediate before. US president Donald Trump also unveiled the slogan for his
2020's campaign titled "Trump 2020" and the slogan is "Keep America Great!" It
means, he already has made America great and urged his countrymen to elect him
for put aside the greatness.
"To win the people, always cook them some savoury that pleases them," the
Aristophanes maxim is very true in the First Past the Post (FPTP) democracy since
solitary casting is enough to determine the representative of a specific constituency
here. In the dipolar politics of Bangladesh, it is now the matter to see whether
people are going to walk through the Road to Prosperity or they will be appetite
with Rainbow Nation dream on December 30.