Civil society members yesterday floated a citizens' group to prepare a mid-term development vision for the country and launch a campaign for electing honest and competent candidates in the next general elections.

The group will also put pressure on major political parties to nominate honest and competent people for the electoral race and work together for a free and fair voting with the participation of all parties.

Prof Rehman Sobhan, chairman of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), has been made convenor of the body styled 'Citizens' Group for a Vision for Bangladesh'.

Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, executive director of the CPD, read out the names of the group's members at a citizens' dialogue on civil society initiative in accountable development efforts. The CPD in collaboration with The Daily Star and the Prothom Alo organised the dialogue at a city hotel.

Leading economists, business leaders, legal experts, development activists, women entrepreneurs, women activists, scientists, litterateurs, former bureaucrats and members of indigenous community are members of the group.

Former chief of caretaker government Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman was the chief guest at the dialogue chaired by Prof Rehman Sobhan.

Grameen Bank Managing Director Dr Muhammad Yunus placed a formula for carrying out a movement to pressurise major political parties to nominate competent and honest candidates in the elections.

Law Minister Moudud Ahmed, eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain, political leaders Suranjit Sengupta, Motia Chowdhury, ASM Abdur Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahman and leading personalities in different fields took part in the dialogue.

"The group will prepare a mid-term development vision for Bangladesh for the next 15 years which will be turned into our national manifesto," said Debapriya, who will work as member-secretary of the body.

The citizens' group, Debapriya said, will meet different political parties and civil society organisations, hold exchange of view meetings in different places of the country and create public awareness.

It will also analyse election manifesto of major political parties, hold national policy forum meeting 2006 and go for post-election follow-up activities.

Justice Habibur Rahman observed that the initiatives for electoral reforms have led to demand for counter reforms.

He said the government raised the age limit for some constitutional posts and increased the number of election commissioners creating confusion among the people. He however hoped the confusion will be cleared very soon.

Habibur Rahman underscored the need for rule of honest and competent people.

He observed a lack of good advisers in the government. He hoped that the leading scientists and sociologists will come forward and work for improvement of the prevailing situation.

Habibur Rahman urged the civil society members to continue their work even if people do not join them in large scale. "Some day you will get a large number of companions in your race."

DISCUSSION
Moudud Ahmed participated in the open discussion at the dialogue, and expressed solidarity with the proposed civil society movement to force political parties to nominate honest and competent people as candidates in the election.

"Please launch the movement so vigorously that we the politicians are compelled to follow your suggestions for putting honest people in the electoral race," the minister said.

An opportunity of dialogue has been created to make the next election free and fair, and all parties should reach a consensus on smooth progress of democratic rule, he noted.

Dr Kamal Hossain urged the civil society members to work together with politicians to keep the election free from black money, muscle power, violence and politicisation.

"We will have to work for healthy politics to put an end to the ongoing sick politics in Bangladesh, controlled through muscle power, violence and black money," he said participating in the open discussion.

Constitution is nothing but a mere paper without the practice of healthy politics, Dr Kamal observed.

He urged the civil society members to involve themselves in the political process by participating in the next election.

Awami League presidium member Suranjit Sengupta said they are ready to accept any result, even defeat, if the election is held in a free and fair atmosphere and people can vote for whom they want.

"We want participation of all parties in the election in a level playing field and the election will have to be credible to all," he said.

The seasoned parliamentarian questioned activities of the Election Commission in preparing a fresh voter list, and apprehended that many eligible voters have not been listed.
On the role of the civil society in ensuring a free and fair election, and making an elected government accountable to the people, Suranjit urged the civil society to take to the streets with their programmes.

Matiur Rahman, editor of the Prothom Alo, said the prevailing situation in the country will not change if political parties continue to nominate corrupt people as candidates in elections.

He suggested all quarters to have dialogues to find out ways so that all parties participate in the next election and it takes place in time. He also suggested reconstituting the EC and an end to politicisation and nepotism in all tiers of the government.
"The Election Commission is the last prey of politicisation where we have witnessed an extreme form of it in appointing commission officials," he noted.

The Prothom Alo editor described the country's success in food production, women empowerment and reducing child mortality in the last 35 years.

The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam urged the civil society members to involve themselves in the country's political process. "It is possible for anybody to get involved in the political process without engaging in party politics," he said.

A number of citizens' group members also took part in the dialogue.

Eminent scientist and Chittagong University professor Jamal Nazrul Islam strongly opposed bringing foreign grants or aid for the country's development. "We don't need any foreign grant. I will ask the World Bank, IMF and ADB to leave the country as there is no instance of development by using their funds," he said.

Former BUET vice chancellor Dr Iqbal Mahmud stressed increasing investment in the higher education for creating a knowledge-based society. "Apart from investing in the primary and secondary levels of education, we should focus on the higher education," he said.

Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed urged the civil society members to keep pushing the government tirelessly so that it works for people.

Professor Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, M Syeduzzaman, Laila Rahman Kabir, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Rezaul Karim and Maj Gen (retd) AMSA Amin also addressed the programme.