The reform agendas are still on the table, and one would be mistaken to consider these as being in a moribund state either. This is evidenced by the efforts of various groups to bring the two major parties to the table as well as the efforts by elements in both the parties in this regard. And this is a noteworthy effort. We ought not to lose sight of the very important fact that dialogue is the most important aspect of the three interlinked actions that will shape the likely course of politics in Bangladesh, the other two being the necessary electoral reforms and broad based acceptable elections consequent upon that. Thus we strongly believe that dialogue remains a live agenda and to overlook that may put our democracy in a bind.

Our worry stems from the fact that the PM's speech at the rally, stating her intention to follow the constitutional provisions regarding the next election, when taken in the backdrop of what we have stated, is distressing as well as disheartening. It is all the more disparaging because BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan keeps harping on the need for starting a dialogue with his AL counterpart Abdul Jalil. While that is the way to initiate talks on the reform agenda, the PM's articulated stand vis-à-vis reforms at the Sunday grand rally, may have slammed the door on a dialogue with the opposition in the near future. This is perplexing.

PM's utterances fall short of the people's expectations and do nothing to reinforce the concept of participatory democracy. Rigidity in politics is counterproductive since election needs participation of all the parties concerned. Otherwise, it might turn out to be a wasteful exercise, not to speak of the uncertainty that might result because of it.