This could be an attempt on the part of the CTG to implement the so-called "minus two" agenda, which is almost universally talked about in contemporary politics. The armed forces, however, through the office of its chief of staff General M U Ahmed, have been repeatedly saying that the military whole-heartedly wants democracy to thrive in this nation.

In view of the above, the nation has certainly been thrown into confusion with the events surrounding Sheikh Hasina's arrest. If this event can be seen as the beginning of implementing the "minus two" agenda, it will not only remove the two leaders from participating in the next election, as a consequence, it will also break up the AL and the BNP.

If this happens, the present uncertainty in politics may even deepen. Unfortunately, because of the way that politicians had behaved over the last 15 years to fulfil their own interests rather than the nation's, a full scale unrest cannot be ruled out in the near future.

For example, it is now abundantly clear that most of the MPs and ministers, together with their cadres and cronies, had taken the nation to the top of the corruption ladder of the world, not once, but six times in a row. The integrity of the politicians of both persuasions will be seen if the top positions fallen vacant soon.

Having said that, some commentators have been expressing doubts about the recent reform proposals put forward by all the major parties and some individuals. The doubts are not about the proposals, but about the ability of the politicians to implement the reform measures after the lifting of the current ban on politics.

Many even suggest that the whole process of reform would fall apart when presented to the party forums (councils). Sensing the ultimate outcome of the reform proposals of mainstream parties in the future, together with the possible removal of two leaders from the ground, an old breed of politicians with new colours has emerged. Among them, two are certainly very interesting: Dr. Ferdous Ahmed Qoreshi and Professor Sirajul Alam Khan.

Both of them come from greater Noakhali area, and were Chhatra League leaders in late 50s and early 60s and were very close to Bangabandhu, the father of the nation. Since the formation of Dr. Qoreshi's new party is progressing very fast, the rest of this commentary will make some observations on his initiatives.

Dr. Qoreshi was a dormant character in politics in the last 25 years, although he was once a front ranking BNP leader under general Zia. He was also close to general M A G Osmani immediately after the assassination of Zia.

It was not clear, however, what role he played during the regimes of general Ershad, Khaleda Zia, Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda-Nizami. It is however clear that he has found a new opportunity in the present environment, when both the major parties (AL and BNP) are in disarray.

Dr. Qoreshi expects to launch his party in the later part of 2007, and would be contesting all 300 seats in the parliament. He has, however, brought back the issue of past supreme leaders of this nation to the top of his agenda.

His party office at Shegun Bagicha displays a procession of portraits of six late leaders: Sher e Bangla Fazlul Huq, Huseyn Shahid Suhrawardy, Moulana Bhashani, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman and M A G Osmani. In his last press conference, Dr. Qoreshi made it clear that if he forms the next government the portraits of all the six leaders will be displayed on the walls of government offices.

As far as the issue of father of the nation is concerned, Dr. Qoreshi's party immediately enters into a clash with the AL. Display of portrait or not, the nation had settled this issue a long time ago. One does not have to repeat it here. Ask anyone on the street, there will be no problem in finding the answer.

While Dr. Qoreshi finds it acceptable that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the hazar bochorer sreshta Bangalee, Mujib as father of the nation is unacceptable to him.

This whole affair appears to me to be conflicting and confusing, if not contradictory. Why? Even before the birth of a new party, the leader braces himself for a debate which, in fact, had been settled at the time of the birth of this nation. There is no reason at this stage, when the nation is going through an unprecedented crisis, to bring this issue back on the table.

No one knows where we are heading, or what kind of government we will have after 2008. The politicians in the past had played many unethical games by using the names of our late supreme leaders. The time has certainly come now to leave them in peace, and let the nation mourn for those who had experienced brutal, unnatural deaths. Bring back ethics and moral in politics, which all of our six leaders so ardently fought for.

It would be a matter of great disrespect and dishonesty, if Dr. Qoreshi, after forming the government in 2008 (?), displays a procession of portraits in all the government offices. Certainly, our leaders deserve better. The nation does not need any more abuse towards our dead leaders. Follow them and learn to stand one's own feet.

Dr. Moazzem Hossain is a freelance contributor to The Daily Star.