Read the requirements below, perhaps you or a friend or relative may qualify (remember, as Tagore eloquently put it: "Aamra shobai raja amaderi rajar rojjott").

Job Title: Democratically elected leader of a promising nation.

Job Requirements
Integrity/Honesty

• Must be "clean."
• Only work with "clean" people.
• Must promise not to hire any unqualified relatives.
• Will not be influenced by the existing evils of dirty politics.
• Will not be influenced by the temptations of ill sourced wealth.

Creativity

• Can mobilize others to work.
• Overcome gender, race and religion barriers.
• Able to make us Bengalis optimistic (this will be the most difficult task).
• Show us a government and society without corruption.

Courage

• To stand up to the evils of our society.
• To stand up to our other so-called political leaders.
• If need be, to make some unpopular decisions for the ultimate good of the country.
• To change Bangladesh's image in the global community (this one should be easy: the image currently is so low that it can only go upward).
• To bring the Foreign-Direct-Investment that the country needs without being labeled a "foreign/MNC dalal."
• To withstand a deluge of criticism (criticizing, is after all, our favorite past time).

Vision

• Dare to make every citizen dream.
• Rid our country out of chronic poverty and the curse of illiteracy.
• Provide basic health care and economic opportunity.
• Bring unprecedented economic growth.
• Encourage entrepreneurship.
• Upgrade infrastructure.
• Create public-private partnerships.
• Establish a place for Bangladesh in the international community.

Communication

• Distill the message/goals of the country for all the citizens.
• Inspire people to think beyond bi-partisan politics.
• Communicate in ways other than hartals, strikes or name calling.
• Preferably a "non-screamer.

  "

• Convince every citizen (here and aboard) to do their share in rebuilding the nation.
• Effectively communicate Bangladesh's position in the international arena.
• Establish fruitful dialogue with other foreign leaders (without being labeled a foreign agent).

Motivator

• Get the young, the old, the disenchanted and the pessimistic to follow you.
• Surround yourself with good leaders.
• Make your immediate team better than yourself.
• Motivate your underlings with the pride of serving the nation but pay them well enough so there will be no excuse for corruption.
• Rally the international community to assist Bangladesh in the meeting the challenges of global warming.

Charisma

• Either you have it or you don't.
• If you don't have it, then make up for it with passion.

Good Health

• To withstand the physical and mental rigors before, during and after the election.

Education

• At least a university degree with good, coherent communication skills in both Bengali and English.

Relevant Past Experience

• Led a large public or private "civilian" organization with representation all over Bangladesh.
• Daughter or wife (or for that matter, son, husband, mother, father, second cousin, or any other relative) of a past leader does not count towards relevant experience.

Reference

• At least 17,000 citizens who will write in and ask you to "run for election."
• Vote of confidence from international community is a plus not a minus

Compensation

• Upon winning the election, salary of a prime minister (sorry, no other financial "bonus").
• Government housing, car and security.
• The priceless pride, joy and agony of turning a nation around.

If you are still reading this, that means you know of someone who will fit the role. If you do, please do get the person to come forward. I cannot guarantee that some of our countrymen will not tear him/her apart. However, I can guarantee that if the person fits the rigorous requirements above, enough of us will support his/her candidacy. We will throw all in and support the person through victory in the election, through five years of clean, effective government, all the way until he/she hands over a new thriving country to his/her legitimate, elected successor.

Durreen Shahnaz is the Managing Director of a regional media company based in Singapore.