Civil societies, NGOs and professional groups yesterday held programmes in districts, urging parties to nominate honest, patriotic and dedicated candidates and to create awareness among people to elect such people.

Bangladesh is bestowed with tremendous natural and human resources but electing honest people is the key to their utilisation for development of the country and consolidation of democracy, micro credit guru Yunus said at the Daily Star's 15th anniversary function on February 4.

Civil society members including women formed a human chain and held a rally yesterday in front of the Satkhira Deputy Commissioner's office demanding nomination of 'clean and efficient' candidates and compulsory registration of political parties, reports our correspondent.

Satkhira district unit of Sujan, a body comprising local NGOs and civil society members organised the programme, first of its kind in the district that drew spontaneous response from people.

They said nomination of 'clean' candidates in the next general election has now become a demand of the people. Unless such candidates are elected, there will not be any development and wellbeing of people, they said.

Honest and patriotic people do not come to politics now as parties, in most cases, nominate corrupt and inefficient people. Once elected, plunder resources without caring for people's welfare. This trend can be changed only if parties nominate good people, they said.

Development of the country will get a big boost if honest and dedicated people are elected, they said and urged the people to resist nomination of dishonest people in the next election.

They also stressed the need for transparency in parties. Growth of democracy in the country will depend on transparency in parties and how fair the political process is, they added.

They urged professionals and people of all classes to unite to launch a movement and create pressure on parties to nominate honest and dedicated people.

Our Rangpur Correspondent reports: Sushashaner Janyo Nagorik (Citizens for good governance), an NGO, yesterday organised a human chain in front of Rangpur Press Club demanding nomination of honest candidates to ensure good governance, development and peace.

It was followed by a discussion meeting at the club.

Speakers at the meeting said political parties determine the destiny of a country and its people. If they nominate good people, there will be good governance and rapid development amid peace. If they nominate dishonest and corrupt people, development will stop and there will be chaos in society.

Mere reforms of caretaker system and Election Commission will not bring any good to people unless corruption stopped, they said. Electoral reforms and democracy will be a futile exercise if hoodlums are nominated and voted to power, they said.

They also urged the Election Commission for effective steps to stop use of black money in election. People who earn money illegally will retreat and honest and dedicated people will come to politics if this is done, they said.

Our Khagrachhari Correspondent reports: Civil society members, joined by NGOs and professionals yesterday held a rally and formed a human chain in the town urging political parties to nominate honest people in the next election and free the organisations from musclemen and corrupt people to ensure smooth functioning of democracy and development.

The programmes were organised by Sushashoner Janyo Nagorik.

Speakers at the really said there is no dearth of honest, qualified and dedicated people to come to politics. But they keep away as corrupt people with the help of musclemen dominate party units in most districts. Central leaders of the parties should change the trend.