That the proposal of dialogue did not outline or identify any theme of discussion and bomb attack is tacking place here and there for the last ten years or more and even on holy shrine and foreign dignitary (British High Commissioner) and the latest targeting the former prime minister and present leader of opposition, people are gradually getting scared and losing hope.****

PEOPLE of this country for the last twelve years have been watching the same act of proposal and refusal of dialogue between the major political parties for evolving some effective measures towards establishing at least a semblance of good governance in the country.The call for such a dialogue is in its peak now following the worst tragedy of August 21 -- a mindless barbarity ever happened in the history of any nation in the world. Government and opposition in spite of their political divergence and difference of ideology can and should work in harmony so far as the country's welfare and progress are concerned. Ensuring a good governance is the basic responsibility of the government but nevertheless the opposition should cooperate the government to achieve it which has never happened for obvious reasons and one is getting increasingly convinced that such a dialogue is perhaps unlikely to take place and even if it does, it may hardly bring any result against for 'obvious' reasons.

That the proposal of dialogue did not outline or identify any theme of discussion and bomb attack is tacking place here and there for the last ten years or more and even on holy shrine and foreign dignitary (British High Commissioner) and the latest targeting the former prime minister and present leader of opposition, people are gradually getting scared and losing hope. Immediately after every incident we heard the determined promises of the highest law enforcing authority to reveal the cause of event before the public and bring the culprit to books. But no outcome as yet. The nation has the right now to know from both the government and the opposition if they do not want to reveal it or are not capable of doing it.

The state of affairs of the country is getting worse day in and day out. Some points of dialogue suggested below are put for the distinguished politicians, administrators, professionals, intelligentsia, teachers, students and all the people of different strata of the society to form a consensus to establish rule of law in the country.

Fairly elected government: An administrative mechanism or device should be evolved to ensure election of Member of Parliament (M.P.) free from the influence of money and muscle. Many believe that at least taka one crore is required to contest in the national election. I think everybody understands who can afford such an amount and consequent effect of this huge investment in the election! This must be checked. Besides, legal provision has to be evolved so that elected Members of Parliament must attend its session to discharge their responsibilities and shall have no scope to remain absent.

Checking corruption: We have made ourselves famous in the world with ranking of the name of Bangladesh as number one corrupt country. Our poor farmers and villagers who are working so hard to earn us self sufficiency in food are definitely not accounted for corruption. People responsible for corruption are involved in national wealth management and administration. If somebody wants to identify those responsible without fear and favour, this can be done easily with some modification in the existing law extending him protection.

Wage-index price index parity: Salary, wage, honorarium, remuneration etc. for public servants of the republic should be fixed in such a way that any one working can lead a modest life with at least a four-member family. Wage index always should be at par with price index. We had several pay commissions in the past and those always ignored the price index and suggested a pay scale which hardly could meet 15' days expenditure in the month. A large section of employees become corrupt under compulsion. Give them only that much so that they can survive corresponding to their status.

According to many reports at least forty percent of our resources are spent on invisible head (bribe). Let us stop it and a part of it be given toward increasing salary. System of accountability should be introduced on the basis of income, expenditure and asset accumulated. Capital punishment should be introduced for corruption, nepotism and favour.

Students to be kept free from party politics: All educational institutions should be free from national party politics. Students and teachers must be banned by legislation from taking part in party politics. We have come to a stage when our children believe that they can achieve anything including the position of a Minister at the age of thirty by becoming a student leader or an activist of a political party than to be a good student for a good job which provides no comparative modern amenities of life. We realised since 1948 that we were under the occupation of Pakistanis and therefore it was the students who as youth had greater scope to initiate political activities for liberation of our homeland. But we are now an independent nation and our students being the future of the country we want them to build themselves up with proper education to stand in competition with other nations.

Religion to be kept out of politics: Ninety percent of our population is Muslim and our religion is Islam. We are practicing Islam in our everyday life. Is any political party in the name of our religion still then required? We may have organisation to motivate the people how best we can practice Islam in our daily life. I believe that Tablig Jamat is doing a good job which may be strengthen. Why in politics?

Reducing the size of government: We have set up a ridiculously big size government. We do not need more than 12 ministers and 15 secretaries. Fifty percent of the existing directorate and other organisations can be reduced easily. There is no need of any four-tier administration as there is hardly any work at the levels of deputy, joint and additional secretaries. Most of the issues come to the ministry after being screened and examined by the technical directorate headed by officers of the rank of additional secretary. Similarly after an issue is cleared by the Minister, the file should go to Prime Minister for final decision. Except the personal staff of the Prime Minister, there is no need of any person like Director, DG. Addl. Secretary etc. in the Prime Minister's Secretariat. In fact there is no need of such separate secretariat. The single most important factor to the obstruction of development is the too much up and down moment of the file. I am saying so after practical experience and studying the system of government of many developed and developing countries.

Total removal of partisan attitude: A culture has been developed now to carry out and nourish our sense of belonging to some particular political party even in our service career and with patronising the party in power politicisation is getting stronger everyday. Failure of administration is now largely accounted for due to this partisan feeling.

Dr. Md. Ayubur Rahman, is a retired Govt. high official and former President, Krishibeed Institution, Bangladesh.