This is sort of an open tetter to our politicians from a citizen-voter, for establishing a dialogue between the two arms of democracy. No excuse is offered for choosing this medium, as the voters cannot address the political leaders by organising public meetings, with the politicians at the listening end.

For years the politicians have been thundering at us tn a one way communication ... mostly non-communication. That might be one of the reasons why they were ousted from their professional stage, and military Juntas and autocrats took over the game for several decades. The recent people's movement have brought the politicians back to the stage. So it Is the right time for some feedback.

It is trite point out that communication 1s a two-way channel, and public meetings are a one-way system. "Some feedback" is not enough. There must be a well established, permanent feedback system, so that the political leaders (who are always busy and not easily accessible) get to know first-hand the reactions of the people who have something to say. above the mundane com-mi nts of daily life and events.

There Is a reason for the above observations, at least from this writer's angle. One serious shortcoming observed In the speeches Is that the speakers seem to forget that there are different levels of listeners In fact there are two (or three) levels of listeners (or readers): the Inferior*, and the equals or superiors. What we find is that usual sermons are targetted at one level only; leaving the other level* frustrated and starving. The speakers would be more com municative if they do not talk down from above, but speak as equate. We know the speaker* have to explain Ideas at basic level due to disparities In our society; but at selective audiences. the level of the talk should match the level of the listeners (we do not expect Bush one liners on world policies). That Is the reason most of the addresses are found to be boring by ilw.se whose opinions and reactions count They speak a lot. but

have nothing much to say. Verbosity and quantitative and emotional outpourings do not attract qualitative Judgement Appeals are directed to the heart, and not to the head. Noise, sound, volume, and body movements are carriers not’ contents. These are effects. not Information.

Now to the main purpose of thia commentary. It Is hoped that the voters would not be considered impertinent to offer suggestions to our respected leaders, whom we have chosen and raised on pedestals. The recent free elections were held tn the spring. Hence the next step is spring cleaning. The politicians have to clean up and change their eroded public image. Due to the absence

several decades, our politicians have become rusted They have Just come out of hibernation. So they need oiling and clean ing and have to go through elaborate maintenance and operational routines via various checklists (of parameter* and tolerance factors).

What is wrong with the tm age of the politician Is well known, and need not be elaborated here. Ask any man In the street, or raise the topic tn the drawing rooms: the response* are similar, and mostly nega live. We have to share the blame to a large extent, as what we tolerated (so gener

ference. compared to our indifference tn the past the public consciousness has now skyrocketed. and sensitivity to very high. These will act as checks and balances; as also the strong Opposition in the parliament.

It would be a good idea to have a national consensus on rebuilding the correct Image of the politician Some does' and don't# have to be strictly enforced self -Imposed May the EX that to the sportsman's motto We are not yet a sport tng nation - even in non-sport matters Cricket, the English tell u*. to a griUjcmcn s func. aiwi therefore the game of life

A Mawaz

Dhaka J