Speakers at a civil society dialogue Monday said a quality parliament comprising honest and efficient members must be formed through the next general elections to achieve the country's desired developments.

To secure the goal, political parties would have to nominate honest and efficient candidates and Election Commission to make full disclosure of the candidates' wealth and personal information, they said.

They blamed absence of democratic practices in the mainstream parties' internal organisational practices, their negligence of not implementing election manifestos and inspiring the black money holders to enter into politics.

They said that the key to country's economic progress has been handicapped to the bad governance marred by endemic corruption, politcisation and failure of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Terming the next general election is very crucial for the country, they said the expected level of economic development will be hindered without ensuring politics of values and honesty.

The dialogue was organised jointly by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), the daily Prothom Alo and Daily Star at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

Eminent citizens, politicians, businessmen, educationalists and intelligentsia spoke on the occasion, which was organised ahead of the National Election 2007 as part of the civil society initiative to formulate a Development Vision for Bangladesh for next 15 years.

CPD Chairman Prof Rehman Sobhan chaired the programme.

Former chief advisor of the Caretaker government Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman, Dr Kamal Hossain, Grammen Bank Managing Director Prof Muhammad Yunus, Law minister barrister Maudud Ahmed, Awami League (AL) presidium members Matia Choudhury and Suranjit Sengupta, Prothom Alo Editor Matitur Rahman, Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam and CPD Executive Director Debapriya Bhattchariya spoke, among others.

Taking notes of politicisation in administration, prevalence of black money in the economy, nepotism and crossfire, Justice Habibur Rahman expressed his dismay over the delay in separating the judiciary from the executive.

He blamed both the ruling and opposition for keeping the parliament ineffective and their reluctance in implementing their pledges to the people in election manifestos.

Dr Kamal Hossain said the civil society should work for ensuring a people-oriented politics, which would be free from black money, terrorism and politicisation. "We have all the rights in the constitution but in absence of fair politics, this all will be nothing but paper," he said.

Maudud Ahmed said that the two main parties have yet to develop an environment of tolerance in politics. "But it is temporary," he said.

"The High Court has ordered the EC to make full disclosure of the candidates' information and wealth. "However, we did not find any endeavor of the EC for executing the directive," said Debapriya Bhattachariya.

Referring to the upcoming elections in 2007, he said the development discussion should be brought in the mainstream political discussion so that the country can achieve expected progress by next 15 years.

Muhammad Yunus vowed to launch a campaign for qualified candidate for bringing honest people in the parliament.

Underscoring strong role of the intellectuals and civil society, Mahfuz Anam said, "We want free and fair election. Our involvement in political processes is also essential for ensuring prosperous Bangladesh."

The organisers also launched a 24-memebr Citizen's Group for a Vision for Bangladesh headed by Rehman Sobhan. The group will prepare a vision statement for country's development ahead of the next general elections.