It seems Bangladesh may not be only country engaged in a heated debate over its choice of the political system : Should it stick to its present presidential form, switch back to the parliamentary set-up or develop a new one that combines the best of the two forms ?

A report from Seoul says that an influential section of opinion-makers in South Korea have made a case for the country's existing presidential system being changed in favour of a parliamentary form. They may well have come to the conclusion, like many Bangladeshis, that the presidential system produces dictators, like Rhee. Park and Chun who play havoc with the political destiny, especially the fundamental rights, of the people. Perhaps this should be a good enough reason for Seoul to look fondly at the parliamentary form. Yes. but that's not the only reason. Just now. South Korea Is said to be experiencing some kind of a Japanese cultural invasion, mainly through the satellite transmission of Tokyo's TV network, NHK. It Is reported that hundreds of thousands of Korean households have installed special dish antennas to watch programmes beamed from Japan. One result : An increasing number of South Koreans support all kinds of Japanese models, including the political system. Hence this new euphoria sweeping South Korea for the parliamentary system as practised in Japan.

The debate over what system suits a nation best has been going on In other countries as well. Britain's Prince Charles has caused waves by talking openly — and that's breaking a taboo — in favour of proportional representation. And in India, the current parliamentary crisis is said to have brought about an Increase in the number of experts supporting a presidential system for the country. Writing for a regional Journal, one such expert mentions a fascinating anecdote. It is said that when India gained independence In 1947, a suggestion from the then British Prime Minister. Clement Attlee that New Delhi might consider adopting the presidential system, was treated with a mild contempt. "It seemed", said Lord Attlee later, "that I had offered India margarine. Instead of butter."

In the final analysis, it is all a question of giving a country a good popular representative government. When this Is not done. It matters little whether one Is eaten up by the devil or drowned in a deep sea.