He stood independently, and not under the umbrella of one of the two major political parties in the country. He says he can run the show without frequent trips to the metropolis Dhaka. He lives a simple life (press reports), and works, rather quietly, in the background. He is not known as a noise maker and drum beater, and does not need the support of an assortment of flags, icons, and symbols. His services are his testimonials.

Does this signal a new approach to our nasty political culture? Be noticed and recognised by your dedicated public services, and not through noise pollution, depending excessively on the public-address (PA) system. Recognition could be silently acknowledged and appreciated, a situation shocking and unbelievable to the sycophants (flies) licking the spill-overs.

Who will take up this new cue? The new environment needs leaders with moral courage, who are not seeking posts, but willing to serve. 'When the time comes, the leader will appear,' we read in the books of wisdom. Hidden personal agendas inside public platforms act as poison or virus, which have self-destroying properties.

Vajpayee, a veteran politician and former PM of India, lost the general elections as he laid stress on urban "Shining India," ignoring the rural masses. Similarly, our national leaders have to learn a few lessons from current public moods. A genuine leader cannot depend wholly on the followers, while the followers need a real leader for guidance. The strength of a political party depends on the sum total effect of the combined internal leadership. These leaders have to contribute, and not simply carry flags and names. Stand on your two legs, not more!

Today the nation is suffering from the dependency-syndrome. It has no foundation. Super-structures can be seen, but not the foundation. Our leaders are too visible! How they will work in the background? A baby is unaware of the background role of the mother: it takes it for granted, the way we breathe and do not bother about it. Can we breathe our leaders?

Watch out for the new trend. It will take time, but a few pioneers have to show the way, in a spirit of self-sacrifice. Bangladesh is starving from the absence of the latter.