"Hartal is a good idea for the past era, but today it is a bad habit. It is counterproductive," UNDP Resident Representative Jorgen Lissner said.

Talking to the news agency before the March 10 launch of an extensive research report on implications of hartal on Bangladesh economy and society, he said such strike costs huge on the country's economy. "We can't afford confrontational politics--it is too costly, and we believe it is unnecessary too," he said.

Lissner observed that it is quite natural for the opposition to disagree about something, but it is quite unnatural for disagreeing about everything.

He suggested constructive democratic dialogue between people of all sides of political spectrum to find some common ground for the welfare of the population and the country.

"I think one of the most important issues for Bangladesh is to create a strong economy where people can generate jobs to feed their families. And for that it needs open debate to flourish new ideas and people have to be able to discuss important matters in an open atmosphere," he said.

Admitting a stark reality, he said, "Our concern is we are currently facing a double problem". On the one hand, the opposition parties before and now are causing negative effect on the economy by calling hartal and, on the other, the ruling parties before and now do not give much of the chance to the opposition to contribute to the public debate and to formulation of new legislation.

Asked if he would favour banning hartal by enacting new law, the UN development agency's country chief disagreed on the notion, saying: "You can't abolish hartal by passing a law as you can't stop smoking by making a law." Hartal is something that needs agreement by political parties to stop realising it is bad for the people and economy.

"We believe that it is possible to have public manifestation of different ideas without having public confrontation and intimidation."

Lissner said they strongly support freedom of expression and freedom of assembly in an orderly manner, but freedom of calling hartal should not curtail others' freedom to do their jobs and their movement.

"Hartal does not serve the purpose once it used to serve. So, we need to get away from old habit that does not help the people of Bangladesh."

Ten Bangladeshi authors have conducted the study on hartal, a burning issue for Bangladesh.

The UNDP representative said the study tried to give a message that demonstrations are fine, dissension is very important, but not at the expense of economy, not at the expense of free movement and not at the expense of people's security.

"We're in favour of protests when things are wrong, we are in favour of opposing ideas because human mind is very creative; but the moment you are thrown in fear, intimidation and coercion you have crossed the line failing to win the hearts and minds of the people."

In reply to a question, he said parliament should be the centre of debate where members of parliament can place their arguments on all national issues and find ways for solutions.

"We like to urgeplease make your parliament work for the people; please make your parliament a tool to safeguard the stability of your country," Lissner said.

He said he is a great believer in Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr who were non-violent in their dissents. He also referred to famous March 7 speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman making appeal to the people to win their hearts.

One cannot win the hearts and minds of the people through violence or intimidation, but win their hearts by arguments and principles, he observed.

Asked about the study on hartal, the UN executive said the project "Beyond Hartals: Towards Democratic Dialogue in Bangladesh" was undertaken two years ago with the joint funding of the Netherlands and UNDP. The study shows a vast majority of Bangladeshis want to graduate out of hartal culture.

The study, he hoped, would improve the quality of democratic debate and political parties would start talking together to find common ground for the welfare of the country.