Shops are closed by 7:00 in the evening. Govt. doctors are available in remote thanas. Mastans have almost disappeared, though mugging continues unabated.

Who do I congratulate? Whose hands do I kiss in gratitude? If this is a dream, please don't wake me up. Please don't burst the bubble, Don't wake me up to the nightmare that was Bangladesh just a few months ago.

Are we witnessing a new dawn? Will we finally see a just society? Is this the realisation of the dream that the 70 million of us dreamt together in the bleak months of 1971?

God Almighty is giving us a second chance after 36 years. We lost the first opportunity to corrupt, egotistical politicians, the new rich trash, the carpet beggars, mastans, godfathers who plundered the nation's wealth at will. They placed us at the lowest ladder of humanity and got us a name “the most corrupt nation on earth”.

Do we dare make the same mistakes again? Please, for the sake of our children, for the sake of our comrades in arms who gave their lives for a free and just Bangladesh,, for our mothers, wives, sisters, daughters who quietly, patiently bore all the calamities that came their way, don't repeat the mistake.

This is our golden opportunity. Seize it, make the best of it. Seldom is a nation given a second chance to mould its future.

So where do we go from here? The whole world is watching us. We can be masters of our own destiny, or succumb to vanity and lose our freedom to crafty crooks within and without.

We have to be vigilant.

This is about nation building. We need to take cool calculated steps. No hysteria, No emotional outbreaks, we need to plan ahead. We have a legacy of corrupt bureaucracy, a graft-ridden economy, and shortsighted planning. We need vision, determination, and selflessness. Outright honesty and sincerity. A fear grips my heart. Do we have such people? If we don't, we are undone once again. If we do, then let's find them, search for them, beg them to come and give their best in our hour of distress. Where are they, at home? abroad? Let's make a conducive environment so that they can thrive and help us survive.

We start with a few ideas:

We may bring in the best of our sons and daughters and form consultative bodies who may draw up plans for reforms in all aspects of governance and civil behaviour.

Let us go for constitutional reforms. Learn from the mistakes and pitfalls of yesteryears.

Let us get a people's verdict on a burning issue. How long do we want this caretaker govt to continue? Let's go for a referendum.

Let us constitute an independent body that will continue to carry out this purge against corruption even under an elected govt.

Pray to Allah for assistance and help.