Perhaps every citizen of the country feels the kind, if not the degree, of the danger the nation is facing today. But few give their tn depth thoughts emanating from a measure of Ingenuity and patriotism towards Its solution. Is It due to niggardliness, indifference, unimaginativeness or lack of insight and proper education on the part of those who are supposed to be the conscience-keepers of the nation? The reason is anybody's guess. But it is broad and loud that the educated class has perhaps turned Its face from the incoming danger deepening every day. Have thev resigned and become fatalistic, though fatalism has no place in mundane affairs, much less in religion? Or. have they abandoned all initiatives on national plane and thrown themselves into the current of the day?

The emergence of Gano Forum enkindled some hope in as much as It was expected to work as a beacon light in the grey zones ol the nation. Is it fulfilling that role? Perhaps, pot In a full measure. Many thought that Gana Forum was a third current in the national politics. Gano Forum has perhaps neither affirmed nor denied It. Be that a» it may. uf sljotiki consider Gano Forum as really a people's forum — a cradle of free thoughts and • Ideas dedicated to the welfare of the people; a cradle of social and International mobilisation for the cause of the nation: a sort of Hyde Park . a Muktangan to debate and generate Input for the solution of national problem Because it Is helmed by a talent and per •tonality of Internationa) fame If the Gano Forum as a true peoples forum, cutting across all affiliations, can show the nation a brighter path and help It to come out of danger per haps the blessing of people will pour on ft sooner than ex per ted

How should we prioritise national problems endangering us sooner than projerted? The Instifutk/nalizalfon of demor racy. Farakka problem the population explosion problem the poverty problem, the edu cational problem the rule of law problem the value erosion problem, (be law and order problem, the black money problem, the aecouniabflitv and transparency probfern — which one ahoujd fame first or should all lie brarketerl"1 k seems that all of them aw tn terlinked and mutually rein forcing each other Gana

Forum, should address itself seriously to solution of these problems drawing the experts, professionals, social, scientific and political thinkers etc to its portal In the process they should use all conceivable least cost media including the press and press clubs, at home and abroad, off and on. for social and international mobilisation. The Gano Forum can form Gana sub committee for each problem at professional and expert level and try to seek out a solution for each of the crucial problems the nation Is thrown into.

Die present Jatiya Sangsad built upon toil and tears as well as free, fair and impartial elections Is considered to be.the stepping stone for institutpnal isation of democracy and the hub for discussion and solution of national problems. The opposition. however, from the beginning accused the party tn position of making the Jatiya Sangsad ineffective. The party-in position also brought the same accusation- against the opposition party Perhaps the feeling of the broad masses is that the Jatiya^Sangsad Is yet to rise to the lA-el of national expectation In as much the country has witnessed few meaningful debates on solution of national problems in the Jatiya Sangsad. Be that as ft may now because of the continued abstention of the opposition parties the Jatiya Sangsad elected through a model elect ion Is perhaps (we hope not) heading towards Its dissolution

Though the nation is per haps not a party to it (the le-fi Front holds this view) yet the educated segment of the society particularly the Gano Forum t* not raising its due voice tn this respect as much as expected of it The concept of instttutonalisatton of detnoc racy and Inculcation of demo cratR culture tn the polity seems to be thrown into the wind by all and sundry The enlightened class is almost silent and not taking any effective and percep’ ble initiative to break the one trark thinking of the conrerned parties

The F»rakka Barrage is proving a death trap for the nation The Head o» the raised the rawie m ’"NGA wwl sought the co npecatioe and good of the rWVghbrsirvYvg era mtn for the sfaution fa thus Inwnanrtanar. problem Bui the

lea! gimmick and debunked the same as playing of the party in position into the gallery. The Gano Forum, should rise to the occasion both nationally and internationally and create ground for the honourable settlement of water-sharing issue among the riparian countries under SAARC. regional and international umbrella like the sharing of water in Indus-basin under the aegis of World Bank and internationa] community. Meanwhile, the Gano Forum may ensue a national debate as to the construction of the proposed barrage down the Hardinge Bridge and solution strategy of water problem all over the country. The environmental degradation and desertification process Farakka has imposed on the country, should attract the national ge nius as well as consensus for its solution The Gano Forum by the charisma of its name and leadership should give some gifts to the nation caus ing continued and persevered discussion on the solution of national problems, by the scholars and thinkers, pain ots. social workers, and. of course, the people at large Otherwise people may think that the Gano Forum is another traditional political party floated to capture power, though its name does speak of greater magnitude

The immediate agenda for the Forum seems to make the Jatiya Sangsad effective by creating a national pressure on the concerned' quarters and build up an atmosphere where other crucial national agenda ran be debated for solution The Gano Forum should not frustrate the people (Gana I and take up the national prob fans one after another for their resolve

At this level of socio politico economic develop ment of the nation the r'.ano Porum should subsume more the mV of a popular and fessrona! than poHtical onganl nation to salvage the natfon from despondenev In the pro cess they shvwiM petl»a(w shun assoMtion fa retired twiroau crats and rw hnocrats who are nnrmalhr fa one track thought tun pvw to play egy beraxf 'ike professor Harold Laski (daring to laboui Party fa Fng'.and to twwriw munster cvxit'petrtkv' with thetr cfa 'mgw DM ihev uo( prove a! -eadr too rqvnsiw for this nation now erring hoaise for bettering their soefo pfamew evv-nomw rorwhuon?