As we approach the beginning of the third millennium, it is an appropriate time for us look back and reflect on what we have achieved as a nation and what has remained undone. We are proud to have achieved our independence and freedom. We freed our country from tyranny in nine months but it has been close three decades and we still are groping in the dark and fighting among ourselves. Where is the spirit that freed us? Why have we given up so early in the journey? How come we are so happy with the so

called political freedom only when economic and other ■ forms of freedom .remain unachieved? The simple

truth is that there have been too much politics and too little development.

Admittedly, it is tempting for any conscious citizen to go for prescriptions and I am not an exception here. I would like to take this opportunity to put forward a simple but powerful idea: a vision that may be called as the Vision 2021 Bangladesh. The rationale behind calling it a vision 2021 is that we in Bangladesh need a long term perspective, not a short-term view. The year 2021 is also significant because of the following two reasons: first, in the year 2021, Bangladesh will be celebrating its golden jubilee, its 50th anniversary as an independent nation. And the relevant question is what kind of Bangladesh do we want to arrive at? Second, do we need to remind us what the spirit of Ekushey(Bangla for 21)February mean to us?

We as members of the civil society need to articulate a vision for Bangladesh-a dream that can become a reality through hard work and commitment. Today, standing on the eve of the 21 st

century, there probably is no time as good as this. Starting with the young entrepreneurs and professionals of various fields, the roundtable discussions on this shared vision may gradually incorporate the politicians, the business community and the like. Still another series of discussions may integrate the younger generation including students of madrashas, colleges, orphanages and schools. No doubt that many

differences will emerge through these Vision 2021 rountables, but with the help of social scientists we can summarize the major common areas of working together as a nation. At least common priorities can be identified. It certainly will be improper for me to pre-

" judge the outcome of such a nation-wide exercise in soul searching, but my gut feeling tells me that at these two priorities are likely to be on the top of the agenda: developing human capital keeping in mind the 21st century challenges and creating social capital, that is, the ability in our people to work together to build the nation in spite of our differences in political orientation, religious or ethnic origin, etc. We have shown that we can muster social capital when we face a crisis, but we must go one step ahead and create a national value system that fosters social capital in peace time nation building.

(The writter is a Faculty member, school of Business, North South University)