You have also very strongly advocated accountability of the government, but this can be ensured only when there is an Independent Judiciary and the office of the Ombudsman well in place. We have had successive political or elected governments for the last fifteen years but no signs of the governments taking definite steps to make the Judiciary truly Independent are visible, although they had promised to do so before elections.

For a smooth functioning of a democratic government, it is very necessary to strengthen the local government bodies, but our elected governments have not made any positive move to strengthen this system, as they want to control all the upazila and districts etc through the UNOs and DCs. By having elected bodies, of course the ruling party people will occupy not all positions, but healthier will be the functioning of democracy if the opposition can also have some role in the development of their local areas. People expect the MPs to make roads; bridges etc in their areas, but with the existing arrangements, MPs have very little to do unless they are from the ruling party.

Prof. Yunus had a good suggestion: An MP should also be chairman of his upazila.

Of course, this will slightly increase the number of seats in the parliament, which can be done by a necessary amendment. That way MPs will be spending more time in their constituencies and will have more contact with people. They will need to perform well to be re-elected.

Unfortunately, I feel that our political governments will make none of these reforms or changes.

The Election Commission should be Strong and Independent. I hope the media will continue to play an assertive role in this respect.

I have read your commentary but unfortunately cannot agree with you fully. The PM has made a U-turn all right, but she has done it because she could no longer sustain her party's plan because of the pressure from all corners, and she, therefore, doesn't deserve any thanks for this deed of hers.

A Selim, North Dhanmondi, Dhaka