Prime Minister BegUm Khaleda Zia will address the nation this everting. In our view, it will be the most important speech of her entire' politicar career, and also the most crucial one to solve the

General patience is at its end. and conversely. expectation from her speech is almost unrealistically, nigh. Given the public mood, and the universal urge for an end to divisive politics, it is our view that, the spirit of the speech should be far ab?ve partisan politics, and should be solely guided by pub-lip welfare. The speech cannot be vague, ambiguous and noncommittal. It has to address the issue directly, boldly and imaginatively.

So far all her actions, and especially her Speeches, have been REACTIVE. Time has come for her to be PROACTIVE — to go far beyond the Immediate sources of the problem, and give ideas and directions so that we can have free and fair elections, not only the next time round, but tn the ioreseeable future. Instead of

being a leader under siege. Begum Zia can seize the occasion. turn things around and be a leader who restores peace-and unity in the nation.

This, the Prime Minister . can achieve through a visionary speech. Or she can throw the nation to further turmoil and conflict by another of those “Too little, too late" speeches that she is knolvn to make. She must weigh the critical nature of the time and the importance of seeking a solution immediately.

BNP leaders have hinted at the likely Ingredients of her address which. according to them.' will contain indications of her willingness to go for another election, and do so under some sort of agreed caretaker government formula: These are welcome indications. But hardly enough to bring the opposition to the dialogue table, especially after the election of 15 February, repression on political leaders, the mayhem in Chittagong and the killings In Narayanganj.

Sec page 4