Published on 12:00 AM, March 13, 2008

Safeguard our interests

We all must stand against the rollback of progress made in Bangladesh. Hopefully, the progress made under this neutral government will be the foundation for the future government to use this as a launching pad for further progress. We should be rejecting any notion of rolling back the progress made in meting out justice, fighting against corruption, making corrupt politicians responsible for their acts and promoting the interest of common people.
We should start a dialogue among us: how we could be vigilant and safeguard our interest against all wrong doing in the past. The corrupt and morally bankrupt politicians are waiting to take back the country and use it as their money making business venture. The silent coalition between students, teachers, workers, journalists, businessmen, civil society organisations, bureaucrats, honest politicians, armed forces and common people who are the supporters of this neutral government must participate in discussions, using newspapers, Internet media, Radio-TV, private gathering and any means of communications, on safeguarding and promoting people's interest. The fight against corruption must go on beyond this government. One of the election slogans for the political parties ought to be keeping the fight alive against corruption.
Let us discuss our options to make sure systems are in place and we don't go back to the days of misery.
The new generation should take leadership to move the country forward. The new generation understands globalisation and the role of engagement in global interdependency.
The young generation understands technology and Internet, marketing and branding the country in global market. So let's make place for younger and smarter people in politics, business, government and society at large.
In between the change of guard, we selected a neutral caretaker government to oversee smooth handover to a new administration. If our politicians were civilized enough, we would never had the need for caretaker government. Because they were not responsible enough, we invented caretaker government. Let's look forward!