As part of its initiative in view of the forthcoming National Election 2007, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), in association with two leading dailies of the country, the Prothom Alo and the Daily Star, organised a national dialogue titled on Monday, 20 March 2006 at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel Ballroom. Representatives from various walks of life including but not limited to ministers, politicians, lawyers, business personalities, industrialists, academicians, doctors, engineers, journalists, columnists, cultural activists, artists, social workers, NGO representatives, development partners and civil society members attended the meeting.

Former Chief Advisor of the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh Justice Habibur Rahman made the keynote presentation at the meeting as the Chief Guest while Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, CPD chaired the meeting. A good number of eminent personalities addressed this August gathering of the Bangladesh’s civil society. They highlighted distinct but common desire of having ‘clean’ candidates in the political arena of Bangladesh. They also called for effective reforms of the political institutions.

In his introductory speech the Executive Director of the CPD, Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya presented the rationale for such an initiative at this particular point of time. He also briefed the audience on the subsequent regional dialogues that will follow. Dr Bhattacharya felt that the people of Bangladesh are looking forward to political reforms. Mr Motiur Rahman, Editor of the Prothom Alo and Mr Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher of the Daily Star delivered speeches on behalf of the two co-organisers. Barrister Moudud Ahmed, MP, Minister for Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Bangladesh supported the initiative as a constructive one. Former Minister for Agriculture Begum Matia Chowdhury pointed out the importance of politics to be played by politicians. Professor Mohammad Younus, chairman of Grammen Bank presented a vision paper which gave a detailed format and framework for putting forward competent candidates. He named his proposal as “Joggoy Prarthir Andolon”. Professor Rehman Sobhan, in his concluding remarks, focused on the shifting fortunes of Bangladesh’s political scenario since independence and underscored the importance of good governance in Bangladesh. Several participants emphasised the need for electoral reforms and underscored the need for bringing developmental debate at the centre stage of electoral discourse.

A ‘Citizens’ Group’ was formed to prepare a mid-term development vision for the country. Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman of CPD and Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Executive Director of CPD have been made the Convenor and Member Secretary of the Citizens’ Group respectively. The Citizens’ Group will meet different political parties and civil society organisations, and hold meeting at various places of the country to exchange views and create public awareness.