AS the millennium bug engulfed and bit the world with all its might, we at the CA wondered and watched with much dismay, anguish and to some extent agony the slide from one millennium Into another without any dreams, visions, hopes and aspirations for the new millennium on the part of our polity. True there was no lack of celebrations, of partying, of commercialising of the millennium and above all of polemics and rhetorics. But in this entire doldrum what was strikingly missing was an endeavour for change. Did we not greet the millennium with violence against an innocent woman whose only fault lay in wanting to enjoy the millennium celebrations at the highest educational institute of the country?

The print as well as the electronic media did not lag behind. Editorials and eminent personalities reflected on their expectations from the new millennium. Surprisingly enough one again is struck by the lack of imagination and vision in these reflections. While deliberating upon the 21st century they somehow could not come out of the ethos, values and paradigms of the 20th century. Must we then remain imprisoned in the 20th century that has given us two world wars, untold miseries, violence and a nuclear world?

As a marked departure from the norm, the CA felt the need to reflect on the vision and imagination of the common people, who indeed will live through the trial and tribulations of the new millennium. Here again we got stuck for nearly two months as the writings that we received remained imprisoned within the vortex of the 20th century. Finally the CA commissioned its research interns to explore Into the dreams, hopes and aspirations of the downtrodden and deprived ones In the new millennium. Yes they have not ceased to dream. But in order to change their drcams into reality we all need to dream and work together. We must have the vision and imagination to challenge, rethink and redesign our society. With this objective in view the CA is planning to hold a series of public dialogues on pressing issues both at home and abroad These include: Denuclearized South Asia; Party Democracy: Reinventing the Parliament: Separation of Power: Empowering the Election Commission: Reinventing Student Politics: and Democratizing the Audio and Visual Media, all with particular reference to Bangladesh. We invite our esteemed readers to participate with us in this endeavour.