It Is twelve days since BTV had invited Begum Khaleda Zia to be Deshbashir Mukhomukhi — literally to face the nation. She has not yet sent in any reply. As she keeps things postponed, misgivings start creeping into the public mind. The same old thing is perhaps happening over her facing the nation on TV. Most unfortunately.

Begum Zia has a fighter's image. Her standing with the nation rests much on this. It is a fighting le^ershlp' ^G glveS to her party and to the nation as; weti. Jt has served her and her party well irrespective of what was all her fighting for. From a fighter's view Sheikh Haslna's couldn't be but as if she had thrown in the gauntlet, and as the celebrated fighter she is Khaleda didn't have any choice but to take it. Her failure to do so would dent her image unmistakably and very visibly, too. The more she would cling to arguments like everything must be all right with BTV before she would go there — would appear to be hollow excuses perhaps even a ruse for averting grilling by independent questioners.

If the nation has any right on Begum Zia, she should accept the BTV invitation and be face to face with the nation. For it is indeed the whole nation — her admirers and followers of Hasina and all the rest in between — that wants her on this programme. And it is not only a matter of people wanting It. The nation's good demands that the two leaders make themselves fully understood on all burning questions — and in public. Hasina has subjected herself to questions that will be long remembered for their candour. Khaleda must now do her part. This she owes to the nation. If she is deferent to the ethical demands on her position, she cannot but accept the BTV invitation. We can on our part assure that this would benefit her and her party and, yes, the whole nation. Khaleda must not cringe from what is good for the nation. If she only sets aside her misgivings and faces the interlocutors on the TV in Deshbashir Mukhomukhi, imagine what an institution it would help build for the nation! That would be democracy in practice, un-beatably.