Awami League (AL) General Secretary Abdul Jalil and ruling BNP's standing committee member Dr Khondaker Mosharraf Hossain expressed views in favour of discussion, responding to a demand of the other speakers at the roundtable.

They agreed to open talks on issues like reforms in caretaker government and electoral systems, and measures to hold free and fair election and strengthen the parliament.

Leading politicians, members of parliament, economists, business leaders, former government high officials, and civil society members took part in the discussion arranged by national daily the Prothom Alo at a city hotel yesterday morning.

The speakers called on all the political parties to foster better relations between them and work together on issues like attracting investment, facilitating economics growth, and creating employment opportunities for the country's youth.

"We are ready to hold talks with Awami League. Such dialogues could be arranged either in parliament or outside," Khondaker Mosharraf Hossain, minister for health, said speaking at the roundtable.

He, however, said that consensus nomination to the post of next caretaker government chief might not be possible as both the parties appear intent on opposing each other's proposals regarding the selection.

AL general secretary in his address urged the political parties to reach a consensus on ways to free the nation from terrorism and the influence of black money.

"There must be a consensus among all political parties that parliament would be a place for politicians, not for businessmen or profit mongers," he observed.

Jalil also said that reforms in the caretaker government, and empowerment of the election commission are absolutely imperative for the next general election to be free and fair.

The health minister observed that parliament should be considered the most appropriate place for discussion on all national issues.

"It is a false statement that the opposition lawmakers hardly get the floor in parliament," he said in response to an allegation from the AL.

Noted economist Prof Mozaffar Ahmed, former cabinet secretary M Mujibul Haq, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Saifuddin Ahmed Manik, Goutam Dewan, Asaduzzaman Noor MP, Zahiruddin Swapon MP, economist Debapryia Bhattacharya, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce President Kutubuddin Ahmed, Dr Mahmuda Islam, Dr ATM Obaidullah, among others, took part in the discussion.

Motiur Rahman, editor of the Daily Prothom Alo, was the moderator of the roundtable on good governance, parliament, democracy, crisis and potential.

Prof Mozaffar Ahmed said the people in the country suffer hardships mainly due to absence of good governance and rampant corruption. "In our country, personal and party interests take precedence over the national interest," he added.

Former cabinet secretary M Mujibul Haq described the existing constitution as the seedbed for all problems. He proposed forming a constitution commission comprising civil society members for making recommendations on reforms in the constitution.

Debapriya Bhattacharya warned the government of a number of economic problems in the future. He said that the rate of inflation would go up following the hike in prices of essential items in domestic and international markets.

He said both the main political parties should take notice of the future economic trends because whoever comes to office next will have to deal with the situation.

Kutubuddin Ahmed asked the political leaders to make the country a profitable, and not a 'losing concern'.

Depicting the country's overall socio-economic conditions, Motiur Rahman said people are getting anxious about the looming political unrest as the opposition parties are gearing up for agitation for reforms in the caretaker government and electoral systems while the ruling parties remain opposed to the idea.

Asaduzzaman Noor MP said, "It is useless to attend the parliament as adjourning motions brought by the opposition members get rejected."

The AL MPs submitted a total of 2,547 questions in parliament but none of those were accepted, he alleged.